The impact of intestinal parasitic infections on the nutritional status of primary school children in Alexandria, Egypt.

In order to investigate the relationship between intestinal parasitism and nutritional status, stool specimens obtained from 1674 school children aged 6-13 years, enrolled in primary governmental schools in the Eastern zone of Alexandria, Egypt were examined for helminth and protozoan parasites. The findings were collated with anthropometric data (weight and height) on the same children. The prevalence of parasitic infections was found to be 31.5%. The most common infections were found to be with Giardia lamblia (15.4%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (10.2%). Children infected with both helminths and protozoa showed an increased but insignificant risk of underweight relative to those without infections. The risk of stunting was found among all types of parasites as compared to children with no parasites. Also there was a higher non significant risk of wasting among those with protozoal infection especially Giardia lamblia. Children infected with three species or more of intestinal parasitic infections were significantly underweight than non infected children (OR = 4.68, 95% confidence limit = 1.04-18.03). Using stepwise logistic regression analysis, number of parasites appeared to be the most effective variable of the nutritional status of children indicated by weight for age Z score, followed by education of the mother.

Use of breast feeding indicators for assessment of current feeding practices.

To investigate the current breast feeding practices, a survey was conducted cross sectionally on 2000 children aged less than 2 years recruited from 6 MCH centers in Alexandria governorate. The median duration of breast feeding was 19.4 months. Only one quarter of infants were exclusively breast fed for the first four months of age with a mean duration of 2.4+2.5 months. Predominantly breast feeding rate was 0.36, while timely complementary breast feeding rate(6-9 months) was 0.66. Continued breast feeding rate(one year) was 0.73 while that for two years was 0.3. Results also indicated that 40% of infants were receiving food from a bottle with a nipple/teat regardless of whether or not the infant was breast fed. These findings implicate that promotion of breast feeding should receive priority in health programs activities.