High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.

<h4>Background</h4>Knowing the prevalence of schistosomiasis is key to informing programmes to control and eliminate the disease as a public health problem. It is also important to understand the impact of infection on child growth and development in order to allocate appropriate resourc...

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Main Authors: Julius Mulindwa, Joyce Namulondo, Anna Kitibwa, Jacent Nassuuna, Oscar Asanya Nyangiri, Magambo Phillip Kimuda, Alex Boobo, Barbara Nerima, Fred Busingye, Rowel Candia, Annet Namukuta, Ronald Ssenyonga, Noah Ukumu, Paul Ajal, Moses Adriko, Harry Noyes, Claudia J de Dood, Paul L A M Corstjens, Govert J van Dam, Alison M Elliott, Enock Matovu, TrypanoGEN+ Research group
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-07-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0010570&type=printable
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author Julius Mulindwa
Joyce Namulondo
Anna Kitibwa
Jacent Nassuuna
Oscar Asanya Nyangiri
Magambo Phillip Kimuda
Alex Boobo
Barbara Nerima
Fred Busingye
Rowel Candia
Annet Namukuta
Ronald Ssenyonga
Noah Ukumu
Paul Ajal
Moses Adriko
Harry Noyes
Claudia J de Dood
Paul L A M Corstjens
Govert J van Dam
Alison M Elliott
Enock Matovu
TrypanoGEN+ Research group
author_facet Julius Mulindwa
Joyce Namulondo
Anna Kitibwa
Jacent Nassuuna
Oscar Asanya Nyangiri
Magambo Phillip Kimuda
Alex Boobo
Barbara Nerima
Fred Busingye
Rowel Candia
Annet Namukuta
Ronald Ssenyonga
Noah Ukumu
Paul Ajal
Moses Adriko
Harry Noyes
Claudia J de Dood
Paul L A M Corstjens
Govert J van Dam
Alison M Elliott
Enock Matovu
TrypanoGEN+ Research group
author_sort Julius Mulindwa
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Knowing the prevalence of schistosomiasis is key to informing programmes to control and eliminate the disease as a public health problem. It is also important to understand the impact of infection on child growth and development in order to allocate appropriate resources and effort to the control of the disease.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a survey to estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis among school aged children in villages along the Albert-Nile shore line in the district of Pakwach, North Western Uganda. A total of 914 children aged between 10-15 years were screened for Schistosoma mansoni using the POC-CCA and Kato Katz (KK) techniques. The infection intensities were assessed by POC-CCA and KK as well as CAA tests. The KK intensities were also correlated with POC-CCA and with CAA intensity. Anthropometric measurements were also taken and multivariate analysis was carried out to investigate their association with infection status.<h4>Results</h4>The prevalence of schistosomiasis using the POC-CCA diagnostic test was estimated at 85% (95% CI: 83-87), being highest amongst children living closer to the Albert-Nile shoreline. Visual scoring of the POC-CCA results was more sensitive than the Kato Katz test and was positively correlated with the quantified infection intensities by the CAA test. The majority of the children were underweight (BMI<18.5), and most notably, boys had significantly lower height for age (stunting) than girls in the same age range (p < 0.0001), but this was not directly associated with S. mansoni infection.<h4>Conclusion</h4>High prevalence of S. mansoni infection in the region calls for more frequent mass drug administration with praziquantel. We observed high levels of stunting which was not associated with schistosomiasis. There is a need for improved nutrition among the children in the area.
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institution Kabale University
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1935-2735
language English
publishDate 2022-07-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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series PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
spelling doaj-art-c9d0c1f44ec946ffb7680ccffd5f1cbb2025-08-20T03:47:06ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352022-07-01167e001057010.1371/journal.pntd.0010570High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.Julius MulindwaJoyce NamulondoAnna KitibwaJacent NassuunaOscar Asanya NyangiriMagambo Phillip KimudaAlex BooboBarbara NerimaFred BusingyeRowel CandiaAnnet NamukutaRonald SsenyongaNoah UkumuPaul AjalMoses AdrikoHarry NoyesClaudia J de DoodPaul L A M CorstjensGovert J van DamAlison M ElliottEnock MatovuTrypanoGEN+ Research group<h4>Background</h4>Knowing the prevalence of schistosomiasis is key to informing programmes to control and eliminate the disease as a public health problem. It is also important to understand the impact of infection on child growth and development in order to allocate appropriate resources and effort to the control of the disease.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a survey to estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis among school aged children in villages along the Albert-Nile shore line in the district of Pakwach, North Western Uganda. A total of 914 children aged between 10-15 years were screened for Schistosoma mansoni using the POC-CCA and Kato Katz (KK) techniques. The infection intensities were assessed by POC-CCA and KK as well as CAA tests. The KK intensities were also correlated with POC-CCA and with CAA intensity. Anthropometric measurements were also taken and multivariate analysis was carried out to investigate their association with infection status.<h4>Results</h4>The prevalence of schistosomiasis using the POC-CCA diagnostic test was estimated at 85% (95% CI: 83-87), being highest amongst children living closer to the Albert-Nile shoreline. Visual scoring of the POC-CCA results was more sensitive than the Kato Katz test and was positively correlated with the quantified infection intensities by the CAA test. The majority of the children were underweight (BMI<18.5), and most notably, boys had significantly lower height for age (stunting) than girls in the same age range (p < 0.0001), but this was not directly associated with S. mansoni infection.<h4>Conclusion</h4>High prevalence of S. mansoni infection in the region calls for more frequent mass drug administration with praziquantel. We observed high levels of stunting which was not associated with schistosomiasis. There is a need for improved nutrition among the children in the area.https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0010570&type=printable
spellingShingle Julius Mulindwa
Joyce Namulondo
Anna Kitibwa
Jacent Nassuuna
Oscar Asanya Nyangiri
Magambo Phillip Kimuda
Alex Boobo
Barbara Nerima
Fred Busingye
Rowel Candia
Annet Namukuta
Ronald Ssenyonga
Noah Ukumu
Paul Ajal
Moses Adriko
Harry Noyes
Claudia J de Dood
Paul L A M Corstjens
Govert J van Dam
Alison M Elliott
Enock Matovu
TrypanoGEN+ Research group
High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.
title_full High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.
title_fullStr High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.
title_full_unstemmed High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.
title_short High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the Albert-Nile, Northern Uganda: A cross sectional study.
title_sort high prevalence of schistosoma mansoni infection and stunting among school age children in communities along the albert nile northern uganda a cross sectional study
url https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0010570&type=printable
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