Impact Of Urinary Schistosomiasis On Nutritional Status Of School Children In South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium constitutes a major public health problem in Nigeria particularly among school age children. This study evaluated the impact of S. haematobium infection on the nutritional status of school children by considering the anthropometric parameters of the children in relation to the infection using standard techniques. Of the total of 403 school children who participated in the study, 320(79.4%) were infected with S. haematobium and the prevalence of infection was significantly higher among the male children compared to the female children (χ =4.67, P<0.05). The prevalence of infection significantly increased with decrease in age of the children (χ =10.70, P<0.05). Children with lower body weight, lower height and lower arm circumference were significantly more infected with S. haematobium than their mates with higher anthropometric parameters (P<0.05). Findings from this study suggest that S. haematobium infection may affect the growth and the nutritional status of children adversely.