Micronutrients deficiencies and its correlation with the soil-transmitted helminthic infections among children and non-pregnant women in Nepal: findings from Nepal national micronutrient status survey

Abstract

Despite having a high risk of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infection, no national level study has been conducted to assess incidence and correlates of STHs in Nepal. Thus, we hypothesized that micronutrients and social status are linked with incidence of STHs infection among 6–59 months children and 15–49 years non-pregnant women in Nepal and Kato-Katz technique was adopted to measure the type and intensity of STHs infections using fresh stool specimens and venous blood was used to examine micronutrients biomarkers. Anthropometric measurements such as height and weight, sociodemographic and health status were determined using structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to assess unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and the 95% CIs of ORs. The bivariate association of STHs was assessed with the covariates variables. Overall, 12% children and 19% non-pregnant women had STHs infection; A. lumbricoides was the predominant helminth in both study participants. In multivariate model; age, ethnicity, anaemia and zinc deficiency were associated with STHs infections in children. Similarly, higher odds of STHs occurrence was observed among non-pregnant women with vitamin A deficiency. Findings from this study suggest that high-risk population, with a focus on those of lower socioeconomic status should be on priority of deworming program, nutrition intervention, and mass administration of preventive chemotherapy and sanitation champions supplement to reduce the STHs infections in Nepal.

Analisis Infeksi Soil Transmitted Helminths dengan Anemia dan Malnutrisi: Telaah Sistematis

“…Anak dengan stunting juga berisiko lebih tinggi terinfeksi STH (Fauziah et al, 2022;Ruth et al, 2014). STH juga dapat merebut vitamin A inang, menyebabkan diare dan disentri, yang berujung ke malnutrisi dan sistem imun lemah (Mehata et al, 2022).…”

The Hidden Hunger among Nepalese Non-pregnant Women Aged 15–49 Years: The Role of Individual, Household, Community-Level Factors

“…However, whilst some studies merely examined the prevalence and causes of micronutrients [6,20], others were limited in scope; for instance, one study assessed the micronutrient deficiencies among adolescents but limited them to refugees [22]. Other studies also focus on children aged 6-59 months [26,27]. Although micronutrient deficiencies have significant adverse effects on women's overall well-being and health, little is known about the socio-demographic and dietary habits that contribute to micronutrient deficiencies in non-pregnant Nepalese women.…”