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Nutritional risk factors for hookworm infection among school age children in the Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana
Author(s) -
Humphries Debbie,
Simms Benjamin,
Davey Dylan,
Otchere Joseph,
Quagraine Josephine,
Berg Elyssa,
Newton Samuel,
Harrison Lisa,
Boakye Daniel,
Wilson Michael,
Cappello Michael
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1028.6
Subject(s) - hookworm infection , deworming , hookworm infections , medicine , environmental health , anemia , socioeconomic status , albendazole , malaria , helminthiasis , demography , population , immunology , helminths , surgery , sociology
Hookworm is highly prevalent in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana, and a previous study identified a significant relationship between BMI and infection status in adults. Objectives To investigate the role of nutritional status and dietary risk factors on hookworm infection and response to deworming treatment in school‐age children. Methods Children (n=812) ages 6 to 11 years attending 16 schools were screened for participation on the basis of HAZ scores (low and high). Household level food security and socioeconomic variables, child‐level dietary diversity, hookworm and malaria infection status and response to albendazole were measured in a cross sectional sample (n=286). Results Prevalence of hookworm was 39%, and anemia was 62%. Significant risk factors for hookworm infection included lower consumption of protein‐rich food groups (p<0.05), malaria co‐infection (p<0.05), access to health care (p<0.01), and household geographic location (p<0.05) after controlling for age, gender, household wealth, and recent deworming. The degree of stunting and anemia did not correlate with hookworm infection status. Conclusions Dietary diversity may influence the risk of hookworm infection in Ghana. In areas of high prevalence but low intensity infection, hookworm may not cause traditionally recognized clinical sequelae such as anemia and stunting.