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Malaria and under-nutrition: a community based study among under-five children at risk of malaria, south-west Ethiopia.

Authors :
Amare Deribew
Fessehaye Alemseged
Fasil Tessema
Lelisa Sena
Zewdie Birhanu
Ahmed Zeynudin
Morankar Sudhakar
Nasir Abdo
Kebede Deribe
Sibhatu Biadgilign
Source :
PLoS ONE, Vol 5, Iss 5, p e10775 (2010)
Publication Year :
2010
Publisher :
Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2010.

Abstract

BackgroundThe interaction between malaria and under-nutrition is not well elucidated in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of under-nutrition and its correlation with malaria among under-five children in south-west Ethiopia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was undertaken during March-February, 2009 as part of the baseline assessment of a cluster randomized trial around Gilgel Gibe Hydroelectric dam, south-west Ethiopia. A total of 2410 under-five children were included for anthropometric measurement and blood investigation for the diagnosis of malaria and anemia. The nutritional status of children was determined using the International Reference Population defined by the U.S National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Blood film was used to identify malaria parasite and haemoglobin concentration was determined by Hemo Cue analyzer (HemoCue Hb 301, Sweden).ResultsSignificant proportion (40.4%) of under-five children were stunted (height-for-ageConclusionIn this study, there is no association between malaria and under-nutrition. Children who have malaria are more likely to be anaemic. Malaria prevention and control program should consider nutrition interventions particularly anemia.

Subjects

Subjects :
Medicine
Science

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19326203
Volume :
5
Issue :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
PLoS ONE
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.63aa62ddb9e4811b19d3c15a95169fa
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010775