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The Association Between Major Helminth Infections (Soil-Transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis) and Anemia Among School Children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia

Received: 10 March 2015     Accepted: 19 March 2015     Published: 24 March 2015
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Abstract

Background: Helminthic infections contribute to iron-deficiency anemia among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Children and women of the reproductive age are particularly vulnerable to iron-deficiency anemia exacerbated by parasitic infection. Studies investigating magnitude of major helminthic infections and anemia and also their association are less in this study area. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of major helminthic infections and anemia and also measure their association among school children. Methods: a cross-sectional parasitological and hematological study was conducted on 360 school children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Stool samples were collected and processed using Kato-Katz for microscopic examination. Blood sample was examined using Hemocue to determine the hemoglobin level. Some Socio-demographic and risk factor data were also collected from every study participant using structured questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of helminthic infection and anemia was 27.5% and 25.8%, respectively. Ascaris lumbericiodes 12.5% and 960 epg, hookworms 7.2% and 102.5 epg, Trichuris trichiura 6.1% and 150 epg, Schstosoma mansoni 2.8% and 36 epg, 0.5% of the children were positive for double infections (Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm). Conclusion: Moderately high prevalence of helminthic infections and anemia was of moderate public health significance. Poor sanitary conditions were the major factors for helminthic infections and there was a strong association between anemia and presence of helminthes, especially with hookworm infections (P=0.00). Personal hygiene and good environmental sanitations is the mainstay to control helminthes infections.

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17
Page(s) 97-104
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Anemia, Helminthes, School Children, Shimbit, Bahir Dar

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Abebe Getnet, Seble Worku. (2015). The Association Between Major Helminth Infections (Soil-Transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis) and Anemia Among School Children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. American Journal of Health Research, 3(2), 97-104. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17

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    ACS Style

    Abebe Getnet; Seble Worku. The Association Between Major Helminth Infections (Soil-Transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis) and Anemia Among School Children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Am. J. Health Res. 2015, 3(2), 97-104. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17

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    AMA Style

    Abebe Getnet, Seble Worku. The Association Between Major Helminth Infections (Soil-Transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis) and Anemia Among School Children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Am J Health Res. 2015;3(2):97-104. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17,
      author = {Abebe Getnet and Seble Worku},
      title = {The Association Between Major Helminth Infections (Soil-Transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis) and Anemia Among School Children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {97-104},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20150302.17},
      abstract = {Background: Helminthic infections contribute to iron-deficiency anemia among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Children and women of the reproductive age are particularly vulnerable to iron-deficiency anemia exacerbated by parasitic infection. Studies investigating magnitude of major helminthic infections and anemia and also their association are less in this study area. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of major helminthic infections and anemia and also measure their association among school children. Methods: a cross-sectional parasitological and hematological study was conducted on 360 school children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Stool samples were collected and processed using Kato-Katz for microscopic examination. Blood sample was examined using Hemocue to determine the hemoglobin level. Some Socio-demographic and risk factor data were also collected from every study participant using structured questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of helminthic infection and anemia was 27.5% and 25.8%, respectively. Ascaris lumbericiodes 12.5% and 960 epg, hookworms 7.2% and 102.5 epg, Trichuris trichiura 6.1% and 150 epg, Schstosoma mansoni 2.8% and 36 epg, 0.5% of the children were positive for double infections (Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm). Conclusion: Moderately high prevalence of helminthic infections and anemia was of moderate public health significance. Poor sanitary conditions were the major factors for helminthic infections and there was a strong association between anemia and presence of helminthes, especially with hookworm infections (P=0.00). Personal hygiene and good environmental sanitations is the mainstay to control helminthes infections.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Association Between Major Helminth Infections (Soil-Transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis) and Anemia Among School Children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia
    AU  - Abebe Getnet
    AU  - Seble Worku
    Y1  - 2015/03/24
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17
    T2  - American Journal of Health Research
    JF  - American Journal of Health Research
    JO  - American Journal of Health Research
    SP  - 97
    EP  - 104
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8796
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150302.17
    AB  - Background: Helminthic infections contribute to iron-deficiency anemia among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Children and women of the reproductive age are particularly vulnerable to iron-deficiency anemia exacerbated by parasitic infection. Studies investigating magnitude of major helminthic infections and anemia and also their association are less in this study area. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of major helminthic infections and anemia and also measure their association among school children. Methods: a cross-sectional parasitological and hematological study was conducted on 360 school children in Shimbit Elementary School, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Stool samples were collected and processed using Kato-Katz for microscopic examination. Blood sample was examined using Hemocue to determine the hemoglobin level. Some Socio-demographic and risk factor data were also collected from every study participant using structured questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of helminthic infection and anemia was 27.5% and 25.8%, respectively. Ascaris lumbericiodes 12.5% and 960 epg, hookworms 7.2% and 102.5 epg, Trichuris trichiura 6.1% and 150 epg, Schstosoma mansoni 2.8% and 36 epg, 0.5% of the children were positive for double infections (Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm). Conclusion: Moderately high prevalence of helminthic infections and anemia was of moderate public health significance. Poor sanitary conditions were the major factors for helminthic infections and there was a strong association between anemia and presence of helminthes, especially with hookworm infections (P=0.00). Personal hygiene and good environmental sanitations is the mainstay to control helminthes infections.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Bahir Dar Health Science College, Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia

  • Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Bahir Dar Health Science College, Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia

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