Nutritional Status and Intestinal Parasitic Infestation among Rural Fulani Children in Vom, Plateau State

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infestation among children may affect their growth and mental ability and may also cause decreased intake or functional increase in the body's nutrient requirement.

Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of rural Fulani children and to establish the relationship between their nutritional status and intestinal parasitic infestation.

Methods: A total of 191 children, aged six months to 18 years were studied. Their weights and heights were measured, while specimens of their stools were collected and analysed.

Results: Seventy seven (40.3 percent) of the 191 were males and 114 (59.7 percent) were females. Eighty three (43.4 percent) were aged 5-9 years, and 58 (30.4 percent) were aged 10 14 years. Forty seven (24.6 percent) of the children had intestinal parasites in their stool samples. Of these, 28 (59.6 percent) were females. The commonest intestinal parasites were E histolytica in 20 (42.7 percent) and Ascaris lumbricoides in nine (19.1 percent); others were hookwormin six (12.8 percent), and Schristosoma mansoni in one (2.1 percent). The most common mixed infestation was with Entamoeba histolytica and hookworm in five (10.7 percent), E histolytica/ Strongyloides stercularis in 2.1 percent and E histolytica/A lumbricoides in 2.1 percent. Comparisons of weight-for-age and height-for-age measurements between those with intestinal parasites and others without intestinal parasites showed that most of those with intestinal parasites fell below the 5th centile compared with those who had no parasites. Similarly, all the subjects with Entamoeba histolytica as the only intestinal parasite, had weight-for-age and height-for-age measurements below the 5th centile.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of intestinal parasites and undernutrition among the Fulani children studied and it is postulated that the intestinal parasites probably worsened their nutritional status.