Nutritional status and parasites (intestinal and urinary) infections among school-age children in Burkina Faso: case study of Yamtenga, Koubri and Daguilma schools.

Abstract

This study aims to assess the nutritional status in relation to the associated  parasitic state among in children of three schools in Burkina Faso, namely Daguilma , Koubri and Yamtenga. The study was conducted from April to October 2014.

The assessment of nutritiona1 status focused on the Body Mass Index for Age (BMI for age) which is more appropriate for the evaluation of malnutrition among children aged from 5 to 19 years (WHO, 2007). The characterization of intestinal parasites was perfonned using the formalin ether method which has the advantage for identifying helminth eggs and protozoa. A total of 363 schoolchildren consisting of 182 boys and 181 girls were selected for the study.

The results obtained showed an underweight of 28.3%, 15.8% and 16.3% among schoolchildren of Yamtenga, Koubri and Daguilma, respectively . The intestinal parasites rates recorded were 77.5%, 73.3% and 79.7% in Y.amtenga, Koubri and Daguilma, respectively . For the urinary schistosomiasis, 5.8, 3.3 and 4.1% of schoolchildren were infected in Yamtenga , Koubri and Daguilma , respectively. Among the under­ weight schoolchildren , 91.2, 84.2 and 65% were infected by intestinal parasites in Yamtenga, Koubri and Daguilma, respectively .

It appears necessary for a successful fight against malnutrition among schoolchildren , to ensure not only adequate food, but also to involve an effective treatment against intestinal and urinary parasites .