Evidence of reduced academic performance among schoolchildren with helminth infection

Evidence of reduced academic performance among schoolchildren with helminth infection

Abstract Background Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) pose a formidable health risk to school-age children in resource-limited settings. Unfortunately, mass deworming campaigns have been derailed since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The present study assessed the cross-sectional...

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Published in:International health Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 309 - 317
Main Authors: Donkoh, Emmanuel T, Berkoh, Dorice, Fosu-Gyasi, Samuel, Boadu, Wina I Ofori, Raji, Abdul S, Asamoah, Samuel, Otabil, Kenneth B, Otoo, John E, Yeboah, Michael T, Aganbire, Benedicta A, Adobasom-Anane, Austin G, Adams, Simon K, Debrah, Oksana
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Oxford University Press 02-05-2023
Subjects:
Animals
Child
COVID-19
Cross-Sectional Studies
Helminthiasis - complications
Helminthiasis - epidemiology
Helminths
Humans
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - complications
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology
Original
COVID-19
malnutrition
sub-Saharan Africa
academic performance
soil-transmitted helminths
school deworming
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Summary:Abstract Background Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) pose a formidable health risk to school-age children in resource-limited settings. Unfortunately, mass deworming campaigns have been derailed since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The present study assessed the cross-sectional associations between STHs, nutritional status and academic performance of schoolchildren in the Banda District of Ghana. Methods Schoolchildren (5–16 y of age; n=275) were recruited through both school and household visits by community health workers using a multistage cluster sampling technique. In addition to school microscopy, anthropometric records were also taken. Results The prevalence of geohelminthiasis was 40.4% (95% confidence interval 34.6 to 46.2). STHs targeted for elimination by the World Health Organization and national programmes were detected among schoolchildren. Children with intestinal parasite infection (53.7 [standard deviation {SD} 11.5]) had lower mean academic scores compared with uninfected children (59.6 [SD 16.9]) (p=0.034). In multiple regression analysis, intestinal parasite infection status and z-scores for weight-for-age showed a collective significant effect on the academic score (F1117=8.169, p<0.001, R2=0.125). Conclusions Schoolchildren with STHs had poorer academic performance compared with uninfected children, despite their nutritional status. In addition to school feeding programmes, school-based mass drug administration campaigns may be critical for improving learning outcomes in young schoolchildren.
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ISSN:1876-3413
1876-3405
DOI:10.1093/inthealth/ihac044