The relationship between anthropometric indices and gastrointestinal helminth infection in primary school children of Batagarawa Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted from December, 2010 to March, 2011 to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in relation to anthropometric indices among primary school pupils in Batagarawa Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria. Out of 300 stool samples examined, using the formol-ether concentration technique, 72 (24%) were infected with four species of intestinal parasites. The prevalence of hookworm infection was 30 (10%), Hymenolepis nana 24 (8%), Schistosomamansoni 12 (4%) and Enterobius vermicularis 6 (2%). The prevalence of the infection was significantly higher among males than females (p<0.05). The highest prevalence was recorded in males in the 9-11 years age-group, followed by 12 years and above age-group. The anthropometric indices showed that the correlation of males and females infected with respect to their height was r=0.904, while the correlation t-test was 2.1145 and weight correlation was r=0.0823, while the t-critical was =12.71 for height and weight indices. A total of 36 (12.0%) of infected pupils had body mass index (BMI) <18 (underweight), while 29 (9.7%) had body mass index of 18-24.9 (normal) and 7 (2.3%) of infected pupils had BMI of 25-29.9 (overweight). No infected child had BMI above 30. The results of the findings imply that inadequate water supply, poor personal hygiene and lack of knowledge favoured increase in the prevalence of infection, disease prevalence may have an effect  the BMI of the children. Control measures suggested include good sanitation, enlightenment campaigns and construction of more wells and boreholes as a means of providing safe drinking water to the populace.

Keywords: prevalence, gastrointestinal helminthosis, anthropometry, Batagarawa.