Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren

Mary Lorraine S. Mationg; Gail M. Williams; Veronica L. Tallo; Remigio M. Olveda; Eindra Aung; Portia Alday; Mark Donald Reñosa; Chona Mae Daga; Jhoys Landicho; Maria Paz Demonteverde; Eunice Diane Santos; Thea Andrea Bravo; Franziska Angly Bieri; Yuesheng Li; Archie C.A. Clements; Peter Steinmann; Kate Halton; Donald E. Stewart; Donald P. McManus; Darren J. Gray

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008

Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren

Mary Lorraine S. Mationg^*, Gail M. Williams, Veronica L. Tallo, Remigio M. Olveda, Eindra Aung, Portia Alday, Mark Donald Reñosa, Chona Mae Daga, Jhoys Landicho, Maria Paz Demonteverde, Eunice Diane Santos, Thea Andrea Bravo, Franziska Angly Bieri, Yuesheng Li, Archie C.A. Clements, Peter Steinmann, Kate Halton, Donald E. Stewart, Donald P. McManus, Darren J. Gray^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

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 partici-pants 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 under-weight. 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 anae-mia, stunting, being underweight and wasting was 13%, 20.2%, 19% and 9.5%, respec-tively. 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).

Original language	English
Article number	e0010008
Number of pages	20
Journal	PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume	15
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008
Publication status	Published - Dec 2021

Access to Document

10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008

Cite this

Mationg, M. L. S., Williams, G. M., Tallo, V. L., Olveda, R. M., Aung, E., Alday, P., Reñosa, M. D., Daga, C. M., Landicho, J., Demonteverde, M. P., Santos, E. D., Bravo, T. A., Bieri, F. A., Li, Y., Clements, A. C. A., Steinmann, P., Halton, K., Stewart, D. E., McManus, D. P., & Gray, D. J. (2021). Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(12), Article e0010008. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008

@article{36f08839eb46478a903ee845aa6a71c5,

title = "Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren",

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 partici-pants 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 under-weight. 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 anae-mia, stunting, being underweight and wasting was 13%, 20.2%, 19% and 9.5%, respec-tively. 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).",

author = "Mationg, {Mary Lorraine S.} and Williams, {Gail M.} and Tallo, {Veronica L.} and Olveda, {Remigio M.} and Eindra Aung and Portia Alday and Re{\~n}osa, {Mark Donald} and Daga, {Chona Mae} and Jhoys Landicho and Demonteverde, {Maria Paz} and Santos, {Eunice Diane} and Bravo, {Thea Andrea} and Bieri, {Franziska Angly} and Yuesheng Li and Clements, {Archie C.A.} and Peter Steinmann and Kate Halton and Stewart, {Donald E.} and McManus, {Donald P.} and Gray, {Darren J.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Mationg et al.",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

journal = "PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases",

issn = "1935-2727",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "12",

}

Mationg, MLS, Williams, GM, Tallo, VL, Olveda, RM, Aung, E, Alday, P, Reñosa, MD, Daga, CM, Landicho, J, Demonteverde, MP, Santos, ED, Bravo, TA, Bieri, FA, Li, Y, Clements, ACA, Steinmann, P, Halton, K, Stewart, DE, McManus, DP & Gray, DJ 2021, 'Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 15, no. 12, e0010008. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008

TY - JOUR

T1 - Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren

AU - Mationg, Mary Lorraine S.

AU - Williams, Gail M.

AU - Tallo, Veronica L.

AU - Olveda, Remigio M.

AU - Aung, Eindra

AU - Alday, Portia

AU - Reñosa, Mark Donald

AU - Daga, Chona Mae

AU - Landicho, Jhoys

AU - Demonteverde, Maria Paz

AU - Santos, Eunice Diane

AU - Bravo, Thea Andrea

AU - Bieri, Franziska Angly

AU - Li, Yuesheng

AU - Clements, Archie C.A.

AU - Steinmann, Peter

AU - Halton, Kate

AU - Stewart, Donald E.

AU - McManus, Donald P.

AU - Gray, Darren J.

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - 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 partici-pants 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 under-weight. 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 anae-mia, stunting, being underweight and wasting was 13%, 20.2%, 19% and 9.5%, respec-tively. 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).

AB - 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 partici-pants 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 under-weight. 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 anae-mia, stunting, being underweight and wasting was 13%, 20.2%, 19% and 9.5%, respec-tively. 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).

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122182077&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008

DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008

M3 - Article

SN - 1935-2727

VL - 15

JO - PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

JF - PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

IS - 12

M1 - e0010008

ER -

Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this