The effect of intestinal schistosomiasis on the haemoglobin levels in primary school children in Makueni District - Kenya
Abstract
Background:Chronic morbidity is one of the major impacts of schistosomiasis in Kenya. Anaemia in
children and women of childbearing age is mainly attributed to malaria, nutrition-status
and other helminthes worms there-fore anaemia identified in primary care settings is
rarely attributed to schistosomiasis and prevalence of anaemia due to schistosome
infectionin high prevalence areas like Kibwezi division of Makueni district is not known.
Objectives
Theobjective of the study was to determine the effect of intestinal schistosomiasis on the
haemoglobinlevels in children
Methods
Thepotential relationship between schistosome infection and the haemoglobin levels was
examinedin an analytical cross-sectional study using a simple questionnaire. Stool and
blood samples were obtained from a total of 380 primary school children who had
assentedto the study.
Dataobtained from the laboratory examination of the samples and the questionnaire was
enteredusing Microsoft Access and analyzed using Intercooled Stata 9.2.
Results
Theoverall prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis for all the children examined in both
schools was 41.3% (95%, CI 36.3%-46.3%), the geometric mean was 82epg and the
mean egg count was 230epg. The maximum observed egg count was 2580 epg at
Miangeni primary school. An epg of 2400 was observed at Iviani primary school. The
mean haemoglobin level of the infected children was 12.77g/dl as compared to the
12.88g/dl of the un-infected children. The difference in mean haemoglobin levels
between the infected and uninfected was not statistically significant at (P=0.3931). The
prevalence of anaemia among school children was 25.7% with the highest prevalence
being within the age group of 12-14 years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study revealed that children who are infected with intestinal
schistosomiasis are not likely to be more anaemic than the un-infected children since
there is no significant difference between the haemoglobin levels of the two groups being
compared.
Citation
Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical Research Methodology of the University Of NairobiPublisher
University of Nairobi Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Description
Research Report Submitted in partial fulfillment of A
Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical Research
Methodology of the University Of Nairobi