Epidemiology of malaria, schistosomiasis, geohelminths, anemia and malnutrition in the context of a demographic surveillance system in northern Angola.

Sousa-Figueiredo, J.C., Gamboa, Dina, Pedro, João Mário, Fançony, Cláudia, Langa, António Justino, Magalhães, Ricardo J Soares, Stothard, J Russell ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-3420 and Nery, Susana Vaz (2012) 'Epidemiology of malaria, schistosomiasis, geohelminths, anemia and malnutrition in the context of a demographic surveillance system in northern Angola.'. PLoS ONE, Vol 7, Issue 4, e33189.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Malaria, schistosomiasis and geohelminth infection are linked to maternal and child morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Knowing the prevalence levels of these infections is vital to guide governments towards the implementation of successful and cost-effective disease control initiatives.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

A cross-sectional study of 1,237 preschool children (0-5 year olds), 1,142 school-aged children (6-15 year olds) and 960 women (>15 year olds) was conducted to understand the distribution of malnutrition, anemia, malaria, schistosomiasis (intestinal and urinary) and geohelminths in a north-western province of Angola. We used a recent demographic surveillance system (DSS) database to select and recruit suitable households. Malnutrition was common among children (23.3% under-weight, 9.9% wasting and 32.2% stunting), and anemia was found to be a severe public health problem (i.e., >40%). Malaria prevalence was highest among preschool children reaching 20.2%. Micro-hematuria prevalence levels reached 10.0% of preschool children, 16.6% of school-aged children and 21.7% of mothers. Geohelminth infections were common, affecting 22.3% of preschool children, 31.6% of school-aged children and 28.0% of mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Here we report prevalence levels of malaria, schistosomiasis and geohelminths; all endemic in this poorly described area where a DSS has been recently established. Furthermore we found evidence that the studied infections are associated with the observed levels of anemia and malnutrition, which can justify the implementation of integrated interventions for the control of these diseases and morbidities.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QX Parasitology > Protozoa > QX 135 Plasmodia QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 200 Helminths QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 355 Schistosoma WA Public Health > WA 105 Epidemiology WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 310 Maternal welfare WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WA Public Health > Statistics. Surveys > WA 900 Public health statistics WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 750 Malaria WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 755 Epidemiology WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 800 Helminthiasis WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 810 Schistosomiasis WD Disorders of Systemic, Metabolic or Environmental Origin, etc > Nutrition Disorders > WD 100 General works WD Disorders of Systemic, Metabolic or Environmental Origin, etc > Nutrition Disorders > WD 105 Deficiency diseases WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Hematologic Diseases. Immunologic Factors. Blood Banks > WH 155 Anemia WS Pediatrics > Diseases of Children and Adolescents > General Diseases > WS 200 General works
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Molecular & Biochemical Parasitology Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033189
Depositing User:	Mary Creegan
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2013 14:06
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2019 12:51
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/3248

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