Status of Intestinal Helminth Infection in Schools Implementing the Home-Grown School Feeding Program and the Impact of the Program on Pupils in Anambra State, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Intestinal helminthiasis among pupils is a major impediment to their well-being and development. This 2-year study determined how home-grown school feeding programme (HGSFP) impacted on pupils' school attendance and created opportunity for more children to assess interventions geared towards the prevention and possible elimination of intestinal helminthiasis. METHODS: Faecal samples were collected from 1677 consented pupils and examined for helminths using Kato-Katz technique. Pupils were treated with 40 mg Levamisole (anti-helminthic) and re-examined. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to determine anthropometric indices and risk factors. RESULTS: A 6% prevalence rate which was not significant with respect to sex or age was observed. Helminth parasites observed were Ascaris lumbricoides (4.4%), Trichuris trichiura (0.8%), Hookworm spp. (0.2%), and Taenia spp. (0.5%). Two pupils (1.98%) recorded high intensity of infection (epg) while 98.02% had light infection. Ascaris lumbricoides voided following treatment were 290. The Body Mass Index (BMI) indicated that infected pupils had lower values (14.6317) compared to uninfected pupils (19.2003). The HGSFP significantly improved school attendance by 30%. Lack of knowledge about transmission (P = 0.0004), hand hygiene (P = 0.01) and usage of toilet (P = 0.01) were risk factors observed. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Intestinal helminthiasis remains a public health problem among pupils because environmental and behavioural risk factors persist. HGSFP improved school attendance and created opportunity for more inclusive participation of school-aged children for deworming. This has great potential in fast-tracking the elimination of intestinal helminthiasis. The present study consequently advocates the need to sustain HGSFP in schools.

Analysis of Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths mixed infections among pupils in Enugu State, Nigeria: Implications for control.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis and Soil-transmitted helminthiasis cause considerable morbidity and mortality in developing countries, especially among children. To this end it, a cross-sectional survey to determine the pattern of Schistosomiasis and Soil-transmitted helminthiasis co-infection was undertaken among primary school pupils in Oduma Community in Enugu State, Nigeria. METHODS: Fresh urine and stool samples were collected from pupils. The urine and stool samples were examined using sedimentation and Kat-Katz techniques respectively. RESULTS: Of the 236 pupils examined, 137 (58.1%) were found positive for at least one helminth infection. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent soil-transmitted helminth (STH), with a prevalence rate of 40.3%, followed by Trichuris trichiura (15.3%) and hookworm (8.9%). Infection with Schistosoma haematobium was detected in 13.6% of the pupils while Schistosoma mansoni infection prevalence was 7.2%. Age group 4 -7 years recorded the highest prevalence for S. haematobium, A. lumbricoides, T. Trichiura and hookworm infections. Multiple infections were also recorded, with 22.9% having double infections and 2.5% having triple infections. The most common double infection was A. lumbricoides with T. trichiura (8.9%), while the most common triple infection was A. lumbricoides, S. haematobium and hookworm (1.7%). CONCLUSION: The results from the present study revealed an evident need for the systematic and sustained administration of school-based chemotherapy program targeting the control of STH infection and Schistosomiasis using Albendazole and Praziquantel respectively in the community, instead of a one-off approach that was carried out.

Association of low birth weight and placental malarial infection in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in Nigeria. However, the contribution of malaria infection to neonatal development is incompletely understood. Here we determined the prevalence of placental malarial infection in six communities in Anambra State, Nigeria, between 2005 and 2006, and compare these data to neonatal birth weight. METHODOLOGY: Blood samples were obtained from the placenta of 500 parturient mothers and examined for the presence of malaria parasites. Newborn birth weight was then compared with the malaria status of their mothers. RESULTS: Placental malarial infection was found in 322 of 500 mothers (64.4%). The prevalence of infection did not differ among the six different Nigerian communities (P = 0.978). Furthermore, there was no difference in infection rates between rural and urban areas (64.9% vs. 64.0%, respectively, P = 0.827). Interestingly, neonates born from mothers with placental malaria had lower birth weights than neonates born from uninfected mothers [2500 g (range 1900 g - 3200 g) vs. 3800 g (range 3200 g - 4700 g), P < 0.001]. Forty-five percent (145/322) of the newborns born from infected mothers were of low birth weight (defined as birth weight less than 2,500 g). CONCLUSION: Malaria infection during pregnancy is common in Nigeria and is likely associated with low newborn birth weight.