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Nutritional Status of Pre-School Children in Rural Nigeria: Relationships with Intestinal Helminthiasis
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of pre-school children in a rural community in Nigeria and to evaluate the relationship between anthropometric status and intestinal helminthiasis
Method: A prospective randomized cross-sectional survey of 195 children living in a farm community at the outskirts of Calabar.
Main outcome measures: Anthropometric status, helminth infection rate.
Results: Overall prevalence rates of underweight, stunting and wasting were 37.9%, 21.5% and 6.7% respectively while the corresponding rates in helminth infected children were 36.6%, 42.9% and 9.9%. The prevalence rates of underweight, wasting, and stunting were higher in infected than the non-infected children, but only the difference in the rate of stunting reached statistical significance (p = 0.052).
Conclusion: Helminthiasis may contribute to the high prevalence of malnutrition in rural Nigerian children.
Key Words: Nutritional Status, Intestinal Helminthiasis, Pre-School Children.
Jnl of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol.1 2000: 18-20
Method: A prospective randomized cross-sectional survey of 195 children living in a farm community at the outskirts of Calabar.
Main outcome measures: Anthropometric status, helminth infection rate.
Results: Overall prevalence rates of underweight, stunting and wasting were 37.9%, 21.5% and 6.7% respectively while the corresponding rates in helminth infected children were 36.6%, 42.9% and 9.9%. The prevalence rates of underweight, wasting, and stunting were higher in infected than the non-infected children, but only the difference in the rate of stunting reached statistical significance (p = 0.052).
Conclusion: Helminthiasis may contribute to the high prevalence of malnutrition in rural Nigerian children.
Key Words: Nutritional Status, Intestinal Helminthiasis, Pre-School Children.
Jnl of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol.1 2000: 18-20
