Microgeographical patterns of schistosomiasis and anthropometric indices of children in eko-ende south west, nigeria

Abstract

Urinary Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of public health importance in Africa affecting children. It relationship with malnutrition is well pronounced in Nigeria and impairs growth of the affected children or persons. This work investigates the nutritional status of children infected with urinary schistosomiasis. The Anthropometric indices of the studied children were determined according to standard procedures and related to intensity of Schistosom. haematobium infection. The weight, height and Age were Anthropometric indices used in this study. A total of 462 children were investigated which comprises of 252 of infected test group and 210 non infected control group. According to height for Age Z-scores 29 (22.7%) of the children with light infection and 60 (48.4%) with heavy infections were severely malnourished p, value= 0.1785 was statistically significant at p>0.05. The higher the intensity of infection, the more malnourished is the child in this study. Nutritional status of the children based on weight for Age Z-scores showed that p-value was not significant. These indicated that there is no significant difference between level of infectivity and weight for age indices of nutritional status. Height for Age Z (HAZ) and Weight for Height Z (WHZ)-scores were more sensitive indices in determining nutritional status in all indices used in this study. However, males were more malnourished and infected than their female counterparts. All stakeholders should intensify efforts through research and health policies at eradicating schistosomiasis schistosomiasis in Nigeria and Africa in general, more importantly among children.