Abstract
Background
Undernutrition and anaemia remains to be a major public health problem in many developing
countries, where they mostly affect children. Intestinal parasitic infections are known to
affect both growth and haemoglobin levels. Much has been reported on the impact of geohelminths
on anaemia and undernutrition, leaving that of Schistosoma mansoni not well
studied. Therefore this study intended to determine the association between S.mansoni
infections, anaemia and undernutrition among schoolchildren in Rorya district, Northwestern
Tanzania.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study was carried among schoolchildren in two onshore villages namely
Busanga and Kibuyi in Rorya district. Single stool specimens were collected from 513 randomly
selected schoolchildren and processed for microscopic examination using the Kato-
Katz method. Nutritional status was determined by anthropometry. Blood samples were
also collected and examined for malaria parasites and haemoglobin levels using the Giemsa
stain and HaemoCue methods, respectively. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect
socio-demographic data and associated factors.
Results
The prevalence of S. mansoni infection and malaria was 84.02% and 9.16%, respectively.
Other parasites found were Ascaris lumbricoides (1.36%) and Hookworm (1.36%). The
prevalence of stunting and wasting was 38.21% and 14.42%, respectively. The prevalence
of anaemia was 29.43%, whereby 0.58% had severe anaemia. S. mansoni infection was
not found to be associated with undernutrition or anaemia (p>0.05). The risk of stunting and wasting increased with increasing age (p
Munisi, D (2021). Schistosoma mansoni Infections, Undernutrition and Anaemia among Primary Schoolchildren in Two Onshore Villages in Rorya District, North-Western Tanzania. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/schistosoma-mansoni-infections-undernutrition-and-anaemia-among-primary-schoolchildren-in-two-onshore-villages-in-rorya-district-north-western-tanzania
Munisi, David "Schistosoma mansoni Infections, Undernutrition and Anaemia among Primary Schoolchildren in Two Onshore Villages in Rorya District, North-Western Tanzania" Afribary. Afribary, 26 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/schistosoma-mansoni-infections-undernutrition-and-anaemia-among-primary-schoolchildren-in-two-onshore-villages-in-rorya-district-north-western-tanzania. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Munisi, David . "Schistosoma mansoni Infections, Undernutrition and Anaemia among Primary Schoolchildren in Two Onshore Villages in Rorya District, North-Western Tanzania". Afribary, Afribary, 26 Apr. 2021. Web. 22 Nov. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/schistosoma-mansoni-infections-undernutrition-and-anaemia-among-primary-schoolchildren-in-two-onshore-villages-in-rorya-district-north-western-tanzania >.
Munisi, David . "Schistosoma mansoni Infections, Undernutrition and Anaemia among Primary Schoolchildren in Two Onshore Villages in Rorya District, North-Western Tanzania" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 22, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/schistosoma-mansoni-infections-undernutrition-and-anaemia-among-primary-schoolchildren-in-two-onshore-villages-in-rorya-district-north-western-tanzania