Title: Prevalence of malnutrition and intestinal parasites in preschool slum children in Lucknow.

POPLINE Document Number: 140689

Author(s):

Awasthi S
Pande VK

Source citation:

INDIAN PEDIATRICS, 1997 Jul;34(7):599-605.

Abstract:

Findings are reported from a study conducted to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their association with malnutrition in a sample of preschool children from 32 randomly chosen anganwadi centers in urban Lucknow, India. Overall, there are 153 anganwadi centers in the city. All eligible children registered with the anganwadi worker were enrolled. Findings are based upon the study of 549 boys and 512 girls aged 1.5-3.5 years. 67.6% were underweight, 62.8% were stunted, and 26.5% were wasted. Parasites were detected in 17.5% of children by a single direct fecal smear examination. Of those, Ascaris lumbricoides was found in 124 (68.1%) and Giardia lamblia in 60 (32.9%). There was no association between weight or height and parasite positivity. The mean hemoglobin levels for children who were smear positive rather than smear negative for ascaris or giardia were 9.1 g/dl and 9.6 g/dl, respectively. Urgent steps are needed in this setting at the community level to improve children's nutritional status and control parasite infestation.

Keywords:

India
Research Report
Urban Population
Slums
Child
Infant
Malnutrition
Gastrointestinal Effects
Parasitic Diseases
Prevalence
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Urbanization
Urban Population Distribution
Population Distribution
Geographic Factors
Youth
Age Factors
Nutrition Disorders
Diseases
Physiology
Biology
Measurement
Research Methodology