Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Despite continuous efforts to control schistosomiasis (SCH) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it still poses a significant challenge. In order to enhance control measures, additional research is necessary. This study documents the burden of SCH infection and its predictors in a rural ar...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/9/455 |
| _version_ | 1797576489681551360 |
|---|---|
| author | Sylvie Linsuke Gillon Ilombe Michel Disonama Jean Deny Nzita Placide Mbala Pascal Lutumba Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden |
| author_facet | Sylvie Linsuke Gillon Ilombe Michel Disonama Jean Deny Nzita Placide Mbala Pascal Lutumba Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden |
| author_sort | Sylvie Linsuke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite continuous efforts to control schistosomiasis (SCH) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it still poses a significant challenge. In order to enhance control measures, additional research is necessary. This study documents the burden of SCH infection and its predictors in a rural area of the DRC. We conducted a household cross-sectional study from June to August 2021 among 480 school-aged children (SAC) aged 5–15 years living in a rural area of Kisangi, in the southwest DRC. We collected and examined stool, urine, and blood samples of each child. Additionally, we obtained data on anthropometry, socio-demographics, household information, and individual water contact behaviors. The overall prevalence of SCH infection was 55.8% (95% CI: 51.4–60.3), with prevalences of 41% (95% CI: 36.6–45.5), 36.3% (95% CI: 31.9–40.6), and 38.4% (95% CI: 32.6–44.3) for <i>S. haematobium</i> and <i>S. mansoni</i> infections and both infections, respectively. Among those with SCH infection, most had a light (67.5%) or heavy (51.7%) infection intensity. The geometric mean egg count was 16.6 EP 10 mL (95% CI: 12.9–21.3) for <i>S. haematobium</i> and 390.2 EPG (95% CI: 300.2–507.3) for <i>S. mansoni</i>. However, age (10 years and above (aOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.5–3.1; <i>p</i> < 0.001)) was an independent risk factor for SCH infection. The overall prevalence of malaria infection was 16.9% (95% CI: 13.5–20.2), that of stunting was 28.7% (95% CI: 24.7–32.8), that of underweight was 17.1% (95% CI: 12.8–21.4), and that of thinness was 7.1% (95% CI: 4.8–9.4). Anemia was prevalent at 49.4% (95% CI: 44.9–5), and the median Hb level of all participants was 11.6 g/dL (IQR: 10.5–12.6 g/dL). Anemia was strongly associated with SCH infection (aOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 2.3–5.1; <i>p</i> < 0.001) yet there was no association with the risk for malaria infection (aOR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6–1.8; <i>p</i> = 0.563). In addition, the risk of anemia increased with heavy infection intensities (<i>p</i> < 0.026 and <i>p</i> < 0.013 for <i>S. haematobium</i> and <i>S. mansoni</i>, respectively). However, stunting had a protective factor for anemia (aOR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2–0.4; <i>p</i> < 0.001). To conclude, SCH infection was widespread among the SAC and strongly linked to anemia. These results provide evidence of the hyperendemicity of infection in the study area, which requires preventative measures such as chemotherapy to reduce the schistosomiasis-associated morbidity, and micronutrient supplements to avoid anemia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:53:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-890b20c12ba74316b29d38faa7a71cef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:53:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-890b20c12ba74316b29d38faa7a71cef2023-11-19T13:17:08ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662023-09-018945510.3390/tropicalmed8090455Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the CongoSylvie Linsuke0Gillon Ilombe1Michel Disonama2Jean Deny Nzita3Placide Mbala4Pascal Lutumba5Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden6Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), Kinshasa 01015, Democratic Republic of the CongoGlobal Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumHealth Zone of Kwilu-Ngongo, Kongo-Central Province, Kwilu-Ngongo 20, Democratic Republic of the CongoHealth Zone of Kwilu-Ngongo, Kongo-Central Province, Kwilu-Ngongo 20, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Epidemiology, National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), Kinshasa 01015, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 01015, Democratic Republic of the CongoGlobal Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumDespite continuous efforts to control schistosomiasis (SCH) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it still poses a significant challenge. In order to enhance control measures, additional research is necessary. This study documents the burden of SCH infection and its predictors in a rural area of the DRC. We conducted a household cross-sectional study from June to August 2021 among 480 school-aged children (SAC) aged 5–15 years living in a rural area of Kisangi, in the southwest DRC. We collected and examined stool, urine, and blood samples of each child. Additionally, we obtained data on anthropometry, socio-demographics, household information, and individual water contact behaviors. The overall prevalence of SCH infection was 55.8% (95% CI: 51.4–60.3), with prevalences of 41% (95% CI: 36.6–45.5), 36.3% (95% CI: 31.9–40.6), and 38.4% (95% CI: 32.6–44.3) for <i>S. haematobium</i> and <i>S. mansoni</i> infections and both infections, respectively. Among those with SCH infection, most had a light (67.5%) or heavy (51.7%) infection intensity. The geometric mean egg count was 16.6 EP 10 mL (95% CI: 12.9–21.3) for <i>S. haematobium</i> and 390.2 EPG (95% CI: 300.2–507.3) for <i>S. mansoni</i>. However, age (10 years and above (aOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.5–3.1; <i>p</i> < 0.001)) was an independent risk factor for SCH infection. The overall prevalence of malaria infection was 16.9% (95% CI: 13.5–20.2), that of stunting was 28.7% (95% CI: 24.7–32.8), that of underweight was 17.1% (95% CI: 12.8–21.4), and that of thinness was 7.1% (95% CI: 4.8–9.4). Anemia was prevalent at 49.4% (95% CI: 44.9–5), and the median Hb level of all participants was 11.6 g/dL (IQR: 10.5–12.6 g/dL). Anemia was strongly associated with SCH infection (aOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 2.3–5.1; <i>p</i> < 0.001) yet there was no association with the risk for malaria infection (aOR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6–1.8; <i>p</i> = 0.563). In addition, the risk of anemia increased with heavy infection intensities (<i>p</i> < 0.026 and <i>p</i> < 0.013 for <i>S. haematobium</i> and <i>S. mansoni</i>, respectively). However, stunting had a protective factor for anemia (aOR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2–0.4; <i>p</i> < 0.001). To conclude, SCH infection was widespread among the SAC and strongly linked to anemia. These results provide evidence of the hyperendemicity of infection in the study area, which requires preventative measures such as chemotherapy to reduce the schistosomiasis-associated morbidity, and micronutrient supplements to avoid anemia.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/9/455<i>Schistosoma</i> infectionprevalenceburdenrisk factorsrural areathe Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| spellingShingle | Sylvie Linsuke Gillon Ilombe Michel Disonama Jean Deny Nzita Placide Mbala Pascal Lutumba Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease <i>Schistosoma</i> infection prevalence burden risk factors rural area the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title | Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full | Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_fullStr | Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_short | Schistosoma Infection Burden and Risk Factors among School-Aged Children in a Rural Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_sort | schistosoma infection burden and risk factors among school aged children in a rural area of the democratic republic of the congo |
| topic | <i>Schistosoma</i> infection prevalence burden risk factors rural area the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/9/455 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sylvielinsuke schistosomainfectionburdenandriskfactorsamongschoolagedchildreninaruralareaofthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo AT gillonilombe schistosomainfectionburdenandriskfactorsamongschoolagedchildreninaruralareaofthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo AT micheldisonama schistosomainfectionburdenandriskfactorsamongschoolagedchildreninaruralareaofthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo AT jeandenynzita schistosomainfectionburdenandriskfactorsamongschoolagedchildreninaruralareaofthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo AT placidembala schistosomainfectionburdenandriskfactorsamongschoolagedchildreninaruralareaofthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo AT pascallutumba schistosomainfectionburdenandriskfactorsamongschoolagedchildreninaruralareaofthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo AT jeanpierrevangeertruyden schistosomainfectionburdenandriskfactorsamongschoolagedchildreninaruralareaofthedemocraticrepublicofthecongo |