Nutritional status.

In low- and middle-income countries, undernutrition often co-exists with intestinal parasites, especially Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections in children. The collective impact of both conditions result in undernutrition and can exacerbate the general poor health status of children. A cross-sectional survey of 422 mother-child (12–59 months old) pairs from 14 villages in the District of Ndelele, East Region of Cameroon, was carried out to assess the magnitude and correlates of undernutrition and intestinal parasites. Socio-demographic data were collected from mothers and anthropometric data were collected from children. Parasitological assessment was performed using a combination of direct microscopy flotation, sedimentation and centrifugation techniques. Correlates of undernutrition and intestinal parasites were identified using multinomial logistic regression at individual and household levels. 83.77% of the children assessed for undernutrition were undernourished and 66.82% were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. It was not uncommon for the study participants to be concurrently infected with two or more intestinal parasites. The most common intestinal parasitic infections detected in the study were A. lumbricoides, E. histolytica/dispar and Hookworm infection. Multinomial logistic regression using Nutritional status as outcome showed that, children who were not exclusively breastfed were 106% (RR = 2.06; C.I = 1.12–3.80) more likely to be underweight compared to those who were exclusively breastfed. The household size of 4 to 6 persons also significantly impacted wasting (p-value = 0.007) at 7% (RR = 1.07, C.I = 0.49–2.32). Analysis by a logistic regression model with STH infection as outcome revealed that, Fingernail cleanness (p-value = 0.044; AOR = 1.75; CI = 1.09–2.78) and household size (p-value = 0.038; AOR = 0.55; CI = 0.32–0.92) were positively associated with intestinal parasite infection at the 5% significant level. This study reveals that intestinal helminthic parasitic infections (STH) and undernutrition are serious health problems in children below five in the study area. To address this dire situation, concerted efforts are needed to improve sanitation, hygiene education access, community deworming programs, and improve diets.

在中低收入国家，营养不良常与肠道寄生虫病合并存在，儿童群体中尤以土源性蠕虫（Soil Transmitted Helminth, STH）感染最为典型。二者共同作用可加重营养不良，并进一步恶化儿童整体的健康状况。本研究针对喀麦隆东部地区恩德勒莱区14个村庄的422对母子（儿童年龄为12~59月龄）开展横断面调查，旨在评估营养不良与肠道寄生虫感染的流行规模及其相关影响因素。研究人员从母亲处收集社会人口学资料，同时对儿童进行人体测量学数据采集。本研究采用直接显微镜检查、浮聚法、沉淀法及离心法联合方案开展寄生虫学评估。通过个体与家庭层面的多项逻辑回归分析，识别营养不良与肠道寄生虫感染的相关影响因素。本次接受营养不良评估的儿童中，83.77%存在营养不良，66.82%检出一种或多种肠道寄生虫感染。研究对象同时感染两种及以上肠道寄生虫的情况并不少见。本研究检出的最常见肠道寄生虫感染为似蚓蛔线虫（A. lumbricoides）、溶组织内阿米巴/迪斯帕内阿米巴（E. histolytica/dispar）感染以及钩虫感染。以营养状况为结局指标的多项逻辑回归分析显示，与纯母乳喂养儿童相比，非纯母乳喂养儿童的体重不足风险升高106%（相对风险比（Relative Risk, RR）=2.06，置信区间（Confidence Interval, CI）=1.12–3.80）。家庭人口数为4~6人的家庭，其儿童发生消瘦的风险显著升高7%（p值=0.007，相对风险比（Relative Risk, RR）=1.07，置信区间（Confidence Interval, CI）=0.49–2.32）。以土源性蠕虫感染为结局指标的逻辑回归分析显示，指甲清洁度（p值=0.044，调整后优势比（Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR）=1.75，置信区间（Confidence Interval, CI）=1.09–2.78）与家庭人口数（p值=0.038，调整后优势比（Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR）=0.55，置信区间（Confidence Interval, CI）=0.32–0.92）在5%显著性水平下与肠道寄生虫感染存在显著关联。本研究表明，土源性蠕虫感染与营养不良是研究区域内5岁以下儿童面临的严重健康问题。为改善这一严峻现状，需协同推进环境卫生改善、卫生教育普及、社区驱虫项目实施以及儿童膳食优化工作。