Kabongo Madeleine Mbuyi, Linsuke Sylvie, Baloji Sylvain, Mukunda Faustin, Raquel Inocêncio da Luz, Stauber Christine, Geertruyden Jean-Pierre Van, Lutumba Pascal
Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA.
National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), Department of Epidemiology, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pan Afr Med J. 2018 Nov 21;31:197. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2018.31.197.16364. eCollection 2018.
Schistosomiasis (SCH) is an important public health problem in developing countries and school-aged children are the most affected. This study explored health and nutritional status and their correlation with SCH in children attending primary school (3rd to 6th class) living in the area of Kasansa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Across-sectional household survey was carried out in Kasansa health area in February 2011. Children whose parents reported to attend primary school (3 to 6 class) were included. Socio-demographic characteristics, information on morbidity history and risk factor were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. and malaria infection were assessed using the Kato-katz technique and rapid diagnostic test, respectively. Haemoglobin concentration was also performed using a portable HemoControl device. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to assess risk factors for .
A total of 197 school aged children participated in the study with a median age of 12 years and 53.8% of them were boys. The overall health status of the children was poor with very high prevalences of infection (89.3%), malaria infection (65.1%), anaemia (61.4%) and stunting (61.0%). Regular contact with river water was the most important risk factor (OR: 11.7; p<0.001) related to SCH infection. A low haemoglobin concentration was significantly associated with a SCH infection (OR: 12.3; p=0.003) and egg load was associated with stunting (OR: 12.4; p=0.04). Children from farmers were more at risk for low school performance (OR: 5.3; p=0.03).
High prevalence of and malaria infection was observed in the study population living in Kasansa area. Moreover, they presented a high burden of anaemia, chronic malnutrition and low school performance. An integrated disease control and management of these diseases and their consequences, endorsed by surveillance, is needed.
血吸虫病是发展中国家一个重要的公共卫生问题，学龄儿童受影响最为严重。本研究探讨了刚果民主共和国卡萨桑地区就读小学（三年级至六年级）儿童的健康和营养状况及其与血吸虫病的相关性。
2011年2月在卡萨桑卫生区开展了一项横断面家庭调查。纳入父母报告其子女就读小学（三至六年级）的儿童。使用半结构化问卷收集社会人口学特征、发病史信息和危险因素信息。分别采用加藤-卡茨技术和快速诊断试验评估血吸虫病感染和疟疾感染情况。还使用便携式血红蛋白控制设备检测血红蛋白浓度。采用双变量和多因素逻辑回归分析评估血吸虫病感染的危险因素。
共有197名学龄儿童参与研究，中位年龄为12岁，其中53.8%为男孩。儿童的总体健康状况较差，血吸虫病感染（89.3%）、疟疾感染（65.1%）、贫血（61.4%）和发育迟缓（61.0%）的患病率都非常高。经常接触河水是与血吸虫病感染相关的最重要危险因素（比值比：11.7；p<0.001）。低血红蛋白浓度与血吸虫病感染显著相关（比值比：12.3；p=0.003），虫卵负荷与发育迟缓相关（比值比：12.4；p=0.04）。农民家庭的儿童学习成绩较差的风险更高（比值比：5.3；p=0.03）。
在卡萨桑地区的研究人群中观察到血吸虫病和疟疾感染的高患病率。此外，他们还面临贫血、慢性营养不良和学习成绩差的沉重负担。需要通过监测认可的综合疾病控制和管理措施来应对这些疾病及其后果。
