scholarly journals Prevalence, Intensity, and Correlates of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School Children after a Decade of Preventive Chemotherapy in Western Rwanda

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1076
Author(s):  
Joseph Kabatende ◽  
Michael Mugisha ◽  
Lazare Ntirenganya ◽  
Abbie Barry ◽  
Eugene Ruberanziza ◽  
...  

Preventive chemotherapy (PC) is a WHO-recommended core intervention measures to eliminate Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) as a public health problem by 2020, defined as a reduction in prevalence to <1% of moderate or high-intensity infection. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence, intensity, and correlates of STH after a decade of PC in Rwanda. A total of 4998 school children (5–15 years old) from four districts along Lake Kivu in the western province were screened for STH using Kato-Katz. The overall prevalence of Soil-transmitted helminths among school children was 77.7% (range between districts = 54% to 92%). Trichirus trichiura was the most common STH (66.8%, range between districts = 23% to 88.2%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (49.9%, range between district = 28.5% to 63.3%) and hookworms (1.9%, range between districts = 0.6% to 2.9%). The prevalence of single, double and of triple parasite coinfection were 48.6%, 50.3%, and 1.1%, respectively. The overall prevalence of moderate or high-intensity infection for Trichirus trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides was 7.1% and 13.9, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that male sex, district, stunting, and schistosomiasis coinfection as significant predictors of STH infection. Despite a decade of PC implementation, STH remain a significant public health problem in Rwanda.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahida Azhar Ali ◽  
Sadaf Niaz ◽  
Liliana Aguilar-Marcelino ◽  
Wajid Ali ◽  
Majid Ali ◽  
...  

AbstractAscariasis is a common public health problem of preschool and primary school children in developing countries like Pakistan. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of Ascaris lumbericoides (A. lumbricoides) infection among children residing in urban areas of Lahore, to provide information on ascariasis to promote awareness and prevention programs between the participants specially on the months or season of higher prevalence. To investigate the prevalence of Ascaris Lumbricoides in the contaminated faecal samples of children residing in urban areas of Lahore, a study was conducted from November 2010 to October 2012 and we collected 3600 stratified faecal samples from six urban study areas. Overall 32/3600 (0.88%) prevalence of fecal samples was found positive for eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides. Area wise highest presence positivity 1.67% was observed in Allama Iqbal Town followed by 1.17% in Samanabad, 1.00% in Wapda Town, 1.00% in Gulberg, 0.50% in Cantt, and the lowest 0.00% in Valencia Town respectively (p < 0.001) The highest month wise positivity prevalence 3/300 (3.33%) (p < 0.001) was observed in the month of September that gradually declined up to 0/300 (0.00%) in the month of March. The results reveal that urban areas of Lahore are susceptible to Ascaris Lubricoides infection and the highest prevalence were observed autumn on the month of September.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1486-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami Al Rifai ◽  
Keiko Nakamura ◽  
Kaoruko Seino

AbstractObjectiveTo examine changes in the prevalence of anaemia and its correlates among children of pre-school age after implementation of wheat flour fortification with multiple micronutrients in Jordan.DesignRetrospective analysis of the data from two repeated national cross-sectional panels of pre-school children.SettingThe two surveys were conducted in 2007 and 2009, 16–20 months and 34–36 months, respectively, after implementation of wheat flour fortification with multiple micronutrients in Jordan. Anaemia was considered if Hb level was <11 g/dl. An anaemia prevalence of ≥40 % was considered a severe public health problem, while that of 20–39·9 % was considered a moderate public health problem.SubjectsA total of 3789 and 3447 children aged 6–59 months tested in 2007 and 2009, respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of anaemia in pre-school children declined from 40·4 % in 2007 to 33·9 % in 2009 (adjusted OR=0·74; P<0·001). The decline in the prevalence in 2009 as compared with 2007 was more pronounced among children aged >24 months (−13·7 points), children living in urban areas (−8·0 points), children from rich households (−9·0 points), children who had never been breast-fed (−17·0 points) and well-nourished children (−6·8 points). In both surveys, presence of childhood anaemia was strongly associated with child age ≤24 months, living in poor households, breast-feeding for ≥6 months, malnourishment, poor maternal education and maternal anaemia.ConclusionsThe public health problem of childhood anaemia declined from severe in 2007 to moderate in 2009, after the implementation of wheat flour fortification with multiple micronutrients in Jordan.


Author(s):  
Vimala Manne ◽  
D. Subhash Reddy

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Among children worldwide, dermatophyte infections are most common constituting a public health problem. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and causative agents of tinea capitis in school children attending primary school located in Hyderabad and to perform an analysis of risk factors associated with tinea capitis as the etiological factor.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a school based, cross sectional, prospective study which was conducted in July 2015. This study was conducted in a school located near Hyderabad.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 600 school children, 298 boys and 302 girls, 100 were diagnosed with a tinea capitis infection after clinical and microbiological examination, with an estimated prevalence rate of 15.0%. The most prevalent dermatophytes isolation in tinea capitis in children were <em>Trichophyton verucosum</em> (90), <em>Trichophyton tonsurans</em> (30), <em>Trichophyton mentagrophytes</em> (28), <em>Microsporum audiouium</em> (15), <em>Trichophyton soudanese</em> (9), <em>Trichophyton violaceum</em> (5), <em>Microsporum ferrugineum</em> (3), <em>Trichophyton schoenleineii</em> (3), <em>Microsporum gallinae</em> (2) and culture negative and KOH positive (10).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study concluded that the findings suggest that the practices resulting in entrenchment of dermatophyte infections and fungal infection. The promotion of public health action plan based on self hygiene education, which aimed to counteract the epidemiological burden specifically, and it should play an pivotal role in reduction of the prevalence in future of this common infection.</p>


Author(s):  
Susana Valido ◽  
Ermelinda do Carmo Caldeira ◽  
Felismina Mendes

Sociodemographic changes occurring in past decades are reflected as increased population aging, resulting in a higher need to institutionalize elderly. Violence against elderly is a relevant public health problem. The aims of the present cross-sectional exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach were to analyze burnout among formal caregivers at institutions for elderly and to assess the risk of violence against institutionalized elderly. As a part of project ESACA—Envelhecer com Segurança no Alentejo (Prevenir as Quedas e a Violência sobre Idosos)—Compreender para Agir (Aging Safely in Alentejo [Preventing Falls and Violence against Elderly]), the present study analyzed 34 formal caregivers from three institutions that provide care to elderly in the Evora district, Portugal. No situations involving violence against institutionalized elderly were detected. Most participants (96.3%) did not exhibit burnout, although they did report feeling physically and emotionally tired.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
T K Bhagat ◽  
A Shrestha

Background: Dental caries, an infectious microbiologic disease of dental hard tissues, is a common public health problem worldwide. The distribution of dental caries studied in any population, shows that a few in the population experience a lot of decayed teeth and most do not experience any at all or experience very little.Objective: To assess the extent and severity of dental caries among 5-12 years old children of eastern Nepal using DMFT(Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth) and SiC (Significant Caries) index.Methods: Six hundred and sixteen 5-12 years old school children were examined for decayed, missing and filled teeth using WHO criteria. DMFT, dft (decayed filled teeth) and SiC Indices were calculated. Results: The mean dft and SiC* were 1.84 and 4.60 respectively, whereas mean DMFT and SiC were 0.33 and 0.92 respectively.Conclusion: SiC gives a better picture of the at risk population, hence it should be widely used along with dft/DMFT.Health Renaissance 2014;12(2): pp 74-77


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Khonde Kumbu ◽  
K. Mbanzulu Makola ◽  
Lu Bin

Background. Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in Democratic Republic of the Congo but estimates of its prevalence vary widely. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniinfection and associated risk factors among children in 4 health areas of Kisantu health zone.Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 4 health areas of Kisantu health zone. 388 children randomly selected were screened forS. mansoniusing Kato Katz technique and the sociodemographic data was collected. Data were entered and encoded using software EpiData version 3.1. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 software.Results. The prevalence ofS. mansoniwas 26.5% (103); almost two-thirds (63) (61.2%) had light infection intensity. A significant association was found betweenS. mansoniinfection and age (p=0.005), educational level (p=0.001), and practices of swimming/bathing (p<0.001) and using water from river/lake/stream for domestic use (p<0.001). Kipasa health area had high prevalence of schistosomiasis (64.6%) (64/99; 95% CI 54.4–74.0) compared to other health areas.Conclusion.Schistosoma mansoniinfection still remains a public health problem in these areas. There is a need to promote health education and promote behavioral changes in children towards schistosomiasis.


Author(s):  
Martin Kampamba ◽  
Trevor Cheela ◽  
Christabel Nang’andu Hikaambo ◽  
Steward Mudenda ◽  
Kennedy Saini ◽  
...  

Background: Unsafe disposal of unused and expired household medicines is a public health problem and mostly occur because of a lack of knowledge towards suitable medicine disposal methods. Thus, we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices on the disposal methods of unused and expired medicines among students in public academic institutions in Lusaka, Zambia.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 385 students from three higher learning academic institutions were interviewed face to face using a structured questionnaire from 10th May to 24th June 2019. The cleaned data was then transferred to statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25.0 for analysis.Results: The mean age of the participants was 23 (SD±2.9). Out of the 385 participants, 215 (55.8%) did not know much about medical waste and 345 (89.6%) of them did not have any previous information regarding proper and safe disposal of unused and expired medicine. However, 351 (91.4%) of the participants appropriately responded that unsafe disposal of unused and expired medicine poses a threat to human health and can harm the environment. Throwing unused and expired medicine in household garbage/bin was the most frequently used disposal practice followed by flushing them in toilet/sink as responded by 231 (60.0%) and 128 (33.3%) of participants respectively. Only 17 (4.42%) reported returning unused and expired medicines to the nearest pharmacy.  Conclusions: The majority of the study participants used unsafe methods to dispose of unused and expired medicine. However, most of the participants acknowledged that unsafe disposal of unused and expired medicines is a public health problem and proposed the need to introduce drug take-back programs in the communities.  


Author(s):  
Nivedita Sinha ◽  
Rajesh R. Sinha ◽  
Ajay Krishna ◽  
Rashmi Singh

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major preventable public health problem. Prevalence of VAD in preschool children was 5.7% (India), and 4.5% (Bihar). India is implementing biannual Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) since 2007 along with 80 other countries. VAS was originally proposed as a short term measure, followed by dietary improvement. Since vulnerability to VAD is more in high priority districts (HPDs), it was deemed worthwhile to study the extent to which VAS programme is utilized in the 10 HPDs of Bihar with respect to the processes involved and the ultimate outcome of empowering the community with knowledge and capacity to combat VAD on their own.Methods: Cross sectional observational study conducted in 6 randomly selected blocks and 5 session sites per block of the 10 HPDs. 300 sites sampled for processes and 893 caregivers interviewed for their knowledge.Results: Out of 300 sites, 269 sites found functional, 30.85% sites had due lists and 30.11% had MCP cards; 20.44% had adequate VA. IEC displayed at 52.78% and 71.3% sessions conducted in shade. In 79.55% sites efforts made to determine age of child before administration. Correct use of recommended spoon known to 80.66%, benefits of VA to 76.57% and diseases due to VAD to 81.7% of FLWs. Knowledge regarding VA good in 33.4% of caregivers, average in 35.5%, and poor in 30.9%.Conclusions: Crucial gaps found in necessary inputs and conduct of VAS. Community knowledge found lacking for sustainable programme withdrawal. Better programme management will improve utilization. 


Author(s):  
Farzaneh Montazerifar ◽  
Mansour Karajibani ◽  
Hossnieh Asoudeh ◽  
Mohaddeseh Asoudeh ◽  
Ali Reza Dashipour

Background: Malnutrition, as a serious health problem in children, has an increasing prevalence in the developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the anthropometric indices of primary school children in Iranshahr, a city in central region of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1000 6-14 year-old primary school children studying in 16 public and 5 private schools in Iranshahr city from May to June 2017. The sampling was done using multistage cluster random method. The school records were used to determine the students' ages. Their weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Anthropometric indices including weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age were assessed using the National Center for Health Statistics/World Health Organization international growth reference and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2000). Results: The rate of thinness was significantly higher in public than private schools (18.1% vs 1%; P < 0.0001). Overweight/obesity was lower in public schools’ children compared to students of the private schools (0.1% vs 9.3%; P = 0.007). The rates of stunting and underweight in public and private schools’ children were 50.2% vs. 53.3% (P = 0.11) and 46.6% vs 35% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusion: Findings showed that although nutritional status was better in private schools than public schools, malnutrition is still a potential public health problem in this area. Therefore, the nutrition interventions are suggested at national and regional levels to increase the parents' awareness.


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