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Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia

Background: Given that micronutrient deficiency, neglected intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) and poor socioeconomic status are closely linked, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between IPIs and nutritional status of children living in remote and rural areas in West...

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Main Authors: Ngui, R., Lim, Y.A.L., Kin, L.C., Chuen, C.S., Jaffar, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science 2012
Subjects:
R Medicine
Online Access:http://eprints.um.edu.my/4044/1/Ngui-2012-Association_between.pdf
http://eprints.um.edu.my/4044/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22413027
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spelling my.um.eprints.40442017-07-10T03:46:23Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/4044/ Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia Ngui, R. Lim, Y.A.L. Kin, L.C. Chuen, C.S. Jaffar, S. R Medicine Background: Given that micronutrient deficiency, neglected intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) and poor socioeconomic status are closely linked, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between IPIs and nutritional status of children living in remote and rural areas in West Malaysia. Methods/Findings: A total of 550 children participated, comprising 520 (94.5) school children aged 7 to 12 years old, 30 (5.5) young children aged 1 to 6 years old, 254 (46.2) boys and 296 (53.8) girls. Of the 550 children, 26.2 were anaemic, 54.9 iron deficient and 16.9 had iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). The overall prevalence of helminths was 76.5 comprising Trichuris trichiura (71.5), Ascaris lumbricoides (41.6) and hookworm infection (13.5). It was observed that iron deficiency was significantly higher in girls (p = 0.032) compared to boys. Univariate analysis demonstrated that low level of mother's education (OR = 2.52; 95 CI = 1.38-4.60; p = 0.002), non working parents (OR = 2.18; 95 CI = 2.06-2.31; p = 0.013), low household income (OR = 2.02; 95 CI = 1.14-3.59; p = 0.015), T. trichiura (OR = 2.15; 95 CI = 1.21-3.81; p = 0.008) and A. lumbricoides infections (OR = 1.63; 95 CI = 1.04-2.55; p = 0.032) were significantly associated with the high prevalence of IDA. Multivariate analysis confirmed that low level of mother's education (OR = 1.48; 95 CI = 1.33-2.58; p < 0.001) was a significant predictor for IDA in these children. Conclusion: It is crucial that a comprehensive primary health care programme for these communities that includes periodic de-worming, nutrition supplement, improved household economy, education, sanitation status and personal hygiene are taken into consideration to improve the nutritional status of these children. Public Library of Science 2012 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.um.edu.my/4044/1/Ngui-2012-Association_between.pdf Ngui, R. and Lim, Y.A.L. and Kin, L.C. and Chuen, C.S. and Jaffar, S. (2012) Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 6 (3). ISSN 1935-2727 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22413027 22413027
institution Universiti Malaya
building UM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaya
content_source UM Research Repository
url_provider http://eprints.um.edu.my/
language English
topic R Medicine
spellingShingle R Medicine
Ngui, R.
Lim, Y.A.L.
Kin, L.C.
Chuen, C.S.
Jaffar, S.
Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia
description Background: Given that micronutrient deficiency, neglected intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) and poor socioeconomic status are closely linked, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between IPIs and nutritional status of children living in remote and rural areas in West Malaysia. Methods/Findings: A total of 550 children participated, comprising 520 (94.5) school children aged 7 to 12 years old, 30 (5.5) young children aged 1 to 6 years old, 254 (46.2) boys and 296 (53.8) girls. Of the 550 children, 26.2 were anaemic, 54.9 iron deficient and 16.9 had iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). The overall prevalence of helminths was 76.5 comprising Trichuris trichiura (71.5), Ascaris lumbricoides (41.6) and hookworm infection (13.5). It was observed that iron deficiency was significantly higher in girls (p = 0.032) compared to boys. Univariate analysis demonstrated that low level of mother's education (OR = 2.52; 95 CI = 1.38-4.60; p = 0.002), non working parents (OR = 2.18; 95 CI = 2.06-2.31; p = 0.013), low household income (OR = 2.02; 95 CI = 1.14-3.59; p = 0.015), T. trichiura (OR = 2.15; 95 CI = 1.21-3.81; p = 0.008) and A. lumbricoides infections (OR = 1.63; 95 CI = 1.04-2.55; p = 0.032) were significantly associated with the high prevalence of IDA. Multivariate analysis confirmed that low level of mother's education (OR = 1.48; 95 CI = 1.33-2.58; p < 0.001) was a significant predictor for IDA in these children. Conclusion: It is crucial that a comprehensive primary health care programme for these communities that includes periodic de-worming, nutrition supplement, improved household economy, education, sanitation status and personal hygiene are taken into consideration to improve the nutritional status of these children.
format Article
author Ngui, R.
Lim, Y.A.L.
Kin, L.C.
Chuen, C.S.
Jaffar, S.
author_facet Ngui, R.
Lim, Y.A.L.
Kin, L.C.
Chuen, C.S.
Jaffar, S.
author_sort Ngui, R.
title Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia
title_short Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia
title_full Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia
title_fullStr Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of West Malaysia
title_sort association between anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, neglected parasitic infections and socioeconomic factors in rural children of west malaysia
publisher Public Library of Science
publishDate 2012
url http://eprints.um.edu.my/4044/1/Ngui-2012-Association_between.pdf
http://eprints.um.edu.my/4044/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22413027
_version_ 1643687248479125504
score 13.211869

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