Risk factors for infection with soil transmitted helminths, Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia duodenalis in children enrolled in pre-schools in Kafue district, Zambia

Type Working Paper
Title Risk factors for infection with soil transmitted helminths, Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia duodenalis in children enrolled in pre-schools in Kafue district, Zambia
Author(s)
URL http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/eri/aip/906520.pdf
Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections are common among children worldwide, with variable risk of infection. This study was aimed at determining risk factors for infection with soil transmitted helminths, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis among children enrolled in preschools. The study was in two parts; a cross-sectional study in which data were collected from 403 children from 10 randomly selected pre-schools, and a longitudinal study in which 100 children from four pre-schools selected from the previous 10 were enrolled. In the crosssectional study, prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 12.0%, while that of hookworm was 8.3%. Overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium and G. duodenalis was 28.0% and 29.0%, respectively. Low education level of parent/guardian was a significant risk factor for A. lumbricoides (OR = 2.35, 95% CI - 1.02-5.41; p = 0.044) in bivariate analysis while roofing types other than corrugated iron sheets were found to be protective for G. duodenalis infection in both bivariate and multivariate analyses (multivariate: OR = 0.67, 95% CI - 0.45-0.99; p = 0.043). Unexpectedly, low socioeconomic level was found to be protective for Cryptosporidium spp. infection in multivariate analysis (OR = 0.59, 95% CI - 0.35-0.99; p = 0.045). In the longitudinal study none of the factors studied were associated with either infection. These findings may have implications for other pre-schools in other districts in Zambia.

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