Polyparasite Helminth infections and their association to anaemia and undernutrition in Northern Rwanda

Mupfasoni, Denise, Karibushi, Blaise, Koukounari, Artemis, Ruberanziza, Eugene, Kaberuka, Teddy, Kramer, Michael H., Mukabayire, Odette, Kabera, Michee, Nizeyimana, Vianney, Deville, Marie-Alice, Ruxin, Josh, Webster, Joanne P. and Fenwick, Alan (2009) Polyparasite Helminth infections and their association to anaemia and undernutrition in Northern Rwanda. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 3 (9). ISSN 1935-2727

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Abstract

Abstract Background Intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections constitute major public health problems in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In this study we examined the functional significance of such polyparasite infections in anemia and undernutrition in Rwandan individuals. Methods Three polyparasite infection profiles were defined, in addition to a reference profile that consisted of either no infections or low-intensity infection with only one of the focal parasite species. Logistic regression models were applied to data of 1,605 individuals from 6 schools in 2 districts of the Northern Province before chemotherapeutic treatment in order to correctly identify individuals who were at higher odds of being anaemic and/or undernourished. Findings Stunted relative to nonstunted, and males compared to females, were found to be at higher odds of being anaemic independently of polyparasite infection profile. The odds of being wasted were 2-fold greater for children with concurrent infection of at least 2 parasites at M+ intensity compared to those children with the reference profile. Males compared to females and anaemic compared to nonanaemic children were significantly more likely to be stunted. None of the three polyparasite infection profiles were found to have significant effects on stunting. Conclusion The present data suggest that the levels of polyparasitism, and infection intensities in the Rwandan individuals examined here may be lower as compared to other recent similar epidemiological studies in different regions across sub-Saharan Africa. Neither the odds of anaemia nor the odds of stunting were found to be significantly different in the three-polyparasite infection profiles. However, the odds of wasting were higher in those children with at least two parasites at M+ intensity compared to those children with the reference profile. Nevertheless, despite the low morbidity levels indicated in the population under study here, we recommend sustainable efforts for the deworming of affected populations to be continued in order to support the economic development of the country.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.plosntds.org/home.action;jsessionid=E0A...
Additional Information:	© The Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Divisions:	Statistics
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DT Africa R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Date Deposited:	01 Aug 2011 13:00
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2024 19:33
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/37712

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