Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon

Background. Infection with intestinal nematodes is of major public health concern worldwide, and school-age children and pregnant women are the principal victims. The present study was undertaken to provide baseline information on the status of gastrointestinal nematodes among school-age children in...

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Main Authors: Matsinkou Mba Rosine Ruth, Yamssi Cedric, Mbong Erica Malla, Noumedem Anangmo Christelle Nadia, Tateng Ngouateu Aime, Megwi Leonelle, Vincent Khan Payne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6665586
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author Matsinkou Mba Rosine Ruth
Yamssi Cedric
Mbong Erica Malla
Noumedem Anangmo Christelle Nadia
Tateng Ngouateu Aime
Megwi Leonelle
Vincent Khan Payne
author_facet Matsinkou Mba Rosine Ruth
Yamssi Cedric
Mbong Erica Malla
Noumedem Anangmo Christelle Nadia
Tateng Ngouateu Aime
Megwi Leonelle
Vincent Khan Payne
author_sort Matsinkou Mba Rosine Ruth
collection DOAJ
description Background. Infection with intestinal nematodes is of major public health concern worldwide, and school-age children and pregnant women are the principal victims. The present study was undertaken to provide baseline information on the status of gastrointestinal nematodes among school-age children in Bamendjou. Material and Methods. Four hundred and ninety-three (493) stool samples were collected from school children in six (6) different schools (two nursery, two primary, and two secondary schools). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of stool samples were done using the simple flotation and McMaster count techniques, respectively. Results. Among the 493 participants, 57 (11.6%) stool samples were positive for at least one nematode species. Four nematodes are as follows: Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., hookworms, and Strongyloides sp. with respective prevalence and intensities of infection of 6.1% and 2260±6377.98, 3.4% and 223.53±264.054, 3.0% and 416.67±427.061, and 0.2% and 200±00, respectively. The data on the prevalence of nematodes with respect to sex showed that females (13.1%) were more infected than males (12.2%) (P>0.05). Furthermore, with respect to age, older children were more infected than younger ones. Cases of double parasitism were encountered with a prevalence of 1.2%. According to the fecal concentration of eggs, 61.90% of the infections were light. Risk factors such as drinking water from streams and not wearing shoes all the time were significant with infections. Conclusion. The relatively low overall prevalence (11.6%) obtained in this study shows that the national deworming campaign is proving effective, though a more holistic approach is required to prevent infections from bouncing back after such campaigns.
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spelling doaj-art-3348cb92b0be4463aa43fdbd90402dc82025-08-20T02:24:21ZengWileyJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00232090-00312021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66655866665586Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of CameroonMatsinkou Mba Rosine Ruth0Yamssi Cedric1Mbong Erica Malla2Noumedem Anangmo Christelle Nadia3Tateng Ngouateu Aime4Megwi Leonelle5Vincent Khan Payne6Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 067, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, CameroonDepartment of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 067, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Microbiology, Hematology and Immunology Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 067, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 067, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 067, Dschang, CameroonBackground. Infection with intestinal nematodes is of major public health concern worldwide, and school-age children and pregnant women are the principal victims. The present study was undertaken to provide baseline information on the status of gastrointestinal nematodes among school-age children in Bamendjou. Material and Methods. Four hundred and ninety-three (493) stool samples were collected from school children in six (6) different schools (two nursery, two primary, and two secondary schools). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of stool samples were done using the simple flotation and McMaster count techniques, respectively. Results. Among the 493 participants, 57 (11.6%) stool samples were positive for at least one nematode species. Four nematodes are as follows: Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., hookworms, and Strongyloides sp. with respective prevalence and intensities of infection of 6.1% and 2260±6377.98, 3.4% and 223.53±264.054, 3.0% and 416.67±427.061, and 0.2% and 200±00, respectively. The data on the prevalence of nematodes with respect to sex showed that females (13.1%) were more infected than males (12.2%) (P>0.05). Furthermore, with respect to age, older children were more infected than younger ones. Cases of double parasitism were encountered with a prevalence of 1.2%. According to the fecal concentration of eggs, 61.90% of the infections were light. Risk factors such as drinking water from streams and not wearing shoes all the time were significant with infections. Conclusion. The relatively low overall prevalence (11.6%) obtained in this study shows that the national deworming campaign is proving effective, though a more holistic approach is required to prevent infections from bouncing back after such campaigns.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6665586
spellingShingle Matsinkou Mba Rosine Ruth
Yamssi Cedric
Mbong Erica Malla
Noumedem Anangmo Christelle Nadia
Tateng Ngouateu Aime
Megwi Leonelle
Vincent Khan Payne
Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon
Journal of Parasitology Research
title Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon
title_full Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon
title_fullStr Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon
title_short Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon
title_sort intestinal helminth infections and associated risk factors among school aged children of bamendjou community west region of cameroon
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6665586
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