Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Primary School Children in Three Districts of the Volta Region Of Ghana

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the association between asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection and poor intellectual development in primary school children in the Volta Region of Ghana.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among children from 5 primary schools in 3 districts in the Volta region of Ghana. Questionnaires were administered, and blood samples collected for malaria investigation using Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and microscopy. School performance was used to assess intellectual development in the children. Arithmetic was the subject of choice for the standardized test. Pearson chi square test was used to evaluate the association between Plasmodium falciparum and poor school performance. Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with risk of poor school performance.RESULTS: Out of 550 children, 305(55.45%) tested positive for malaria with RDT and 249(45.27%) positive with microscopy. Children from the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) primary school in Afegame had the highest prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection with both RDT (92, 74.80%) and microscopy (73, 59.35%). Two hundred and fifteen students (39.09%) failed the arithmetic school test. EP primary school in Afegame recorded the highest frequency of poor school performance among the children (53.66%). School performance was significantly associated with RDT malaria diagnosis with failure rate higher among children who were RDT positive (135, 62.79%, p=0.005). Lower mean scores were seen in children with positive RDT result (47.35, [SD 30.85], p=0.021). Plasmodium falciparum infection (RDT) was independently associated with increased risk of poor school performance (AOR, 1.92, p=0.003).CONCLUSION: An urgent scale-up of malaria control program targeting school-going children in this region is needed to mitigate the possible negative impact of Plasmodium falciparum infection on their intellectual development.

Download Full-text

Mental Health, Risk Factors and Access to Care for Primary School Children in the Island of Mauritius

Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.2174/221067660404150115163000 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 293-304

Author(s):

Sobharani Sungum-Paliwal

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Primary School ◽

Access To Care ◽

School Children ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Health Risk Factors

Download Full-text

The prevalence and risk factors of stunting among primary school children in North Sumatera, Indonesia

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/125/1/012219 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 125 ◽

pp. 012219

Author(s):

S Lestari ◽

I I Fujiati ◽

D Keumalasari ◽

M Daulay

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Primary School Children

Download Full-text

Risk Factors of Epistaxis in Primary School Children in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine ◽

10.21608/ejhm.2021.207085 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 4035-4041

Author(s):

Huda M. EL-Baz ◽

Khalid A. Mohammed ◽

Hanaa S. Said

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Primary School Children

Download Full-text

PERSONAL HYGIENE AND ANTHELMINTIC CONSUMPTION IN PREVENTION OF ENTEROBIASIS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Jurnal Berkala Epidemiologi ◽

10.20473/jbe.v8i32020.265-274 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 265

Author(s):

Ratna Muliawati ◽

Mushidah Mushidah ◽

Siti Musyarofah

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

First Grade ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Prevalence Odds Ratio

Background: Pinworm infection remains a global public health problem in Indonesia, with the highest prevalence in primary school–aged children. The government has made helminthiasis control efforts through annual deworming every six months, yet data on the enterobiasis prevalence and its risk factors are still limited. Purpose: This research aimed to determine the role of personal hygiene and anthelmintic or worm medicine consumption in the prevention of enterobiasis among primary school children. Methods: This research employed an analytic observational method with a cross-sectional design. The population used was primary school children in the Public Health Center (PHC) of Kaliwungu area, Kendal District, Central Java Province. The research sample was 150 students from first grade to third grade at 1 Primary Elementary School 1 Kutoharjo. The data sources were obtained from interviews of risk factors and perianal swab examinations. The data were analyzed by a chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of pinworm infection among primary school children remains high (37.33%). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that there are three determinant variables of pinworm infections: not washing hands with soap before eating (p < 0.01; Prevalence Odds Ratio (POR) = 6.47; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 2.87 < POR < 14.59); not washing hands with soap after defecation (p = 0.01; POR = 3.36; 95% CI = 1.40 < POR < 8.05); and not consuming anthelmintic drugs within the past six months (p = 0.03; POR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.08 < POR < 5.50). Conclusion: Hand washing habits and annual deworming are important factors to prevent pinworm infections.

Download Full-text

Correction: Risk Factors and Spatial Distribution of Schistosoma mansoni Infection among Primary School Children in Mbita District, Western Kenya

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0003190 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. e3190 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Spatial Distribution ◽

Primary School ◽

Schistosoma Mansoni ◽

School Children ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Western Kenya

Download Full-text

Toxocara infection: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among primary school children in central China

Parasite ◽

10.1051/parasite/2020028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 30 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shuai Wang ◽

Haoran Li ◽

Zhijun Yao ◽

Pengju Li ◽

Dong Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Henan Province ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Central China ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Associated Risk Factors

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease that poses a threat to public health worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection among primary school children in Henan province, central China, which was previously unknown. Sera from 2451 primary school children were collected from September 2015 to October 2018, and evaluated for anti-Toxocara antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall seroprevalence of Toxocara infection was 5.14% (126/2451). The main risk factors related to Toxocara infection identified in this study were the age of children, residence area of children, contact with cats or dogs, and exposure to soil. Hand washing before eating was considered to be a protective factor. These findings demonstrate that Toxocara infection is relatively common among primary school children in Henan province.

Download Full-text