Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia.
Parasit Vectors. 2012 Jun 15;5:119. doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-119.
Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections, anaemia and malnutrition are major public health problems in school-age children in developing countries. This study was conducted on 289 Orang Asli (aboriginal) schoolchildren in order to assess the current prevalence and predictors of anaemia and malnutrition, as well as the nutritional impacts of STH infections among these children.
A cross-sectional study was combined with a longitudinal follow-up three months after treatment with anthelminthic drugs. Blood samples were collected from the children to measure haemoglobin (Hb) level. Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were also collected and the children were screened for STH.
The baseline findings revealed that the prevalence of anaemia, significant stunting, underweight and wasting among the children were 41.0%, 28.0%, 29.2% and 12.5%, respectively. Overall, the prevalence of trichuriasis, ascariasis and hookworm infections were 84.6%, 47.6% and 3.9%, respectively. Haemoglobin level was significantly lower among the moderate-to-heavy infected children compared to the negative-to-light infected children. Age <10 years and moderate-to-heavy ascariasis were the predictors of anaemia. Stunting was associated with gender, age, moderate-to-heavy ascariasis and trichuriasis. Three months post-treatment assessment showed that the moderate-to-heavy infected children gained significant increment in their mean Hb level compared to the negative-to-light infected children (0.44 g/dL compared to 0.08 g/dL). However, no difference was found in the mean increments in growth indices between the groups.
STH infections, anaemia and malnutrition are still prevalent and a matter of public health concern in Orang Asli communities in Malaysia. Sustainable deworming programme at school and community levels among these populations will help to improve their health and nutritional status.
在发展中国家，儿童期肠道蠕虫感染、贫血和营养不良是主要的公共卫生问题。本研究对 289 名马来西亚原住民（Orang Asli）学龄儿童进行了调查，以评估这些儿童当前的贫血和营养不良患病率及其预测因素，以及肠道蠕虫感染对其营养的影响。
本研究采用了横断面研究，并在使用驱虫药物治疗三个月后进行了纵向随访。采集儿童的血样以测量血红蛋白（Hb）水平。还收集了人体测量和社会经济数据，并对儿童进行了肠道蠕虫筛查。
基线研究结果显示，儿童贫血、显著发育迟缓、消瘦和体重不足的患病率分别为 41.0%、28.0%、29.2%和 12.5%。总的来说，鞭虫病、蛔虫病和钩虫病的总感染率分别为 84.6%、47.6%和 3.9%。与轻度至中度感染儿童相比，中度至重度感染儿童的血红蛋白水平显著降低。年龄<10 岁和中度至重度蛔虫病是贫血的预测因素。发育迟缓与性别、年龄、中度至重度蛔虫病和鞭虫病有关。治疗三个月后的评估显示，与轻度至中度感染儿童相比，中度至重度感染儿童的平均 Hb 水平显著升高（0.44 g/dL 与 0.08 g/dL 相比）。然而，两组间生长指数的平均增长差异无统计学意义。
在马来西亚的原住民社区，肠道蠕虫感染、贫血和营养不良仍然很普遍，是公共卫生关注的问题。在这些人群中，在学校和社区层面开展可持续的驱虫计划将有助于改善他们的健康和营养状况。
