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. 2021 Dec 22;15(12):e0010008.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren

Mary Lorraine S Mationg  1   2 , Gail M Williams  3 , Veronica L Tallo  2 , Remigio M Olveda  2 , Eindra Aung  1   4 , Portia Alday  2 , Mark Donald Reñosa  2 , Chona Mae Daga  2 , Jhoys Landicho  2 , Maria Paz Demonteverde  2 , Eunice Diane Santos  2 , Thea Andrea Bravo  2 , Franziska Angly Bieri  1 , Yuesheng Li  5   6 , Archie C A Clements  7 , Peter Steinmann  8   9 , Kate Halton  10 , Donald E Stewart  1   11 , Donald P McManus  5 , Darren J Gray  1
Affiliations

Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren

Mary Lorraine S Mationg et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are still prevalent among schoolchildren in the Philippines. We evaluated the risk factors associated with STH and the relationship between STH and nutritional indices among schoolchildren aged 9-10 years in Laguna province, the Philippines.

Methods: We used the baseline data from 40 schools enrolled in a randomised controlled trial of the Magic Glasses Philippines health education package. Data on demographic and socio-economic variables, and STH related knowledge, attitudes and practices, were obtained through a questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and assessed for STH egg presence using the Kato-Katz technique. Haemoglobin levels and height and weight of study participants were also determined. The generalized estimating equations approach was used to construct logistic regression models to assess STH-associated risk factors, and the association between any STH infection and anaemia, child stunting, wasting and being underweight. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12616000508471).

Findings: Among 1,689 schoolchildren, the prevalence of any STH was 23%. The prevalence of anaemia, stunting, being underweight and wasting was 13%, 20.2%, 19% and 9.5%, respectively. Age, socio-economic status, rural/urban classification of schools and knowledge of STH were significant risk factors for acquiring a STH infection. Moreover, infections with any STH were significantly associated with stunting (P = <0.001) and being underweight (P = <0.003), but not wasting (P = 0.375) or anaemia (P = 0.462) after controlling for confounding covariates.

Conclusion: The study findings emphasise the need for sustainable deworming in tandem with other measures such as the provision of health education, improvements in sanitation and hygiene, and nutritional programs in order to control STH infections and improve morbidity outcomes in schoolchildren.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12616000508471).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Author Remigio M Olveda was unable to confirm their authorship contributions. On their behalf, the corresponding author has reported their contributions to the best of their knowledge.

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