Relationships between anaemia and parasitic infections in Kenyan schoolchildren: a Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach

TY - JOUR

T1 - Relationships between anaemia and parasitic infections in Kenyan schoolchildren

T2 - a Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach

AU - Koukounari, Artemis

AU - Estambale, Benson B A

AU - Njagi, J Kiambo

AU - Cundill, Bonnie

AU - Ajanga, Anthony

AU - Crudder, Christopher

AU - Otido, Julius

AU - Jukes, Matthew C H

AU - Clarke, Siân E

AU - Brooker, Simon

PY - 2008/12

Y1 - 2008/12

N2 - Anaemia is multi-factorial in origin and disentangling its aetiology remains problematic, with surprisingly few studies investigating the relative contribution of different parasitic infections to anaemia amongst schoolchildren. We report cross-sectional data on haemoglobin, malaria parasitaemia, helminth infection and undernutrition among 1523 schoolchildren enrolled in classes 5 and 6 (aged 10-21 years) in 30 primary schools in western Kenya. Bayesian hierarchical modelling was used to investigate putative relationships. Children infected with Plasmodium falciparum or with a heavy Schistosoma mansoni infection, stunted children and girls were found to have lower haemoglobin concentrations. Children heavily infected with S. mansoni were also more likely to be anaemic compared with uninfected children. This study further highlights the importance of malaria and intestinal schistosomiasis as contributors to reduced haemoglobin levels among schoolchildren and helps guide the implementation of integrated school health programmes in areas of differing parasite transmission.

AB - Anaemia is multi-factorial in origin and disentangling its aetiology remains problematic, with surprisingly few studies investigating the relative contribution of different parasitic infections to anaemia amongst schoolchildren. We report cross-sectional data on haemoglobin, malaria parasitaemia, helminth infection and undernutrition among 1523 schoolchildren enrolled in classes 5 and 6 (aged 10-21 years) in 30 primary schools in western Kenya. Bayesian hierarchical modelling was used to investigate putative relationships. Children infected with Plasmodium falciparum or with a heavy Schistosoma mansoni infection, stunted children and girls were found to have lower haemoglobin concentrations. Children heavily infected with S. mansoni were also more likely to be anaemic compared with uninfected children. This study further highlights the importance of malaria and intestinal schistosomiasis as contributors to reduced haemoglobin levels among schoolchildren and helps guide the implementation of integrated school health programmes in areas of differing parasite transmission.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Anemia

KW - Animals

KW - Bayes Theorem

KW - Child

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Female

KW - Hemoglobins

KW - Humans

KW - Kenya

KW - Malaria

KW - Male

KW - Malnutrition

KW - Plasmodium falciparum

KW - Schistosomiasis mansoni

KW - Schools

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.05.013

DO - 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.05.013

M3 - Article

C2 - 18621051

SN - 0020-7519

VL - 38

SP - 1663

EP - 1671

JO - International Journal For Parasitology

JF - International Journal For Parasitology

IS - 14

ER -