An exploratory study on soil-transmitted helminths, growth, and micronutrient status in Northwest Ethiopian schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies remain significant public health challenges, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia, where they have a profound impact on child health, development, and academic performance. The present study aimed to assess nutritional status indicators and serum concentrations of micronutrients in schoolchildren with and without soil-transmitted helminths (STH) at Teda Primary Schools, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from April to June 2021 among schoolchildren in Teda Primary Schools, Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were analyzed using the WHO AnthroPlus software. The Kato Katz method was used to detect ova of STH in the stool, while serum levels of iron, TIBC, and calcium were measured using a Beckman Coulter DxC 700 AU machine. Zinc was measured through Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 96 schoolchildren were included in this study. Forty-eight (50%) of the children had STH infection with Ascaris lumbricoides (83.3%), Hookworm (12.5%), and Trichuris trichuria (4.2%). Only light and moderate intensity of infection was observed. There were statistically significant differences in the mean z-scores of height-for-age between STH-infected and uninfected children. Stunting was more prevalent than thinness or underweight among children. Serum iron concentration was lower in the STH-infected group(p < 0.05). Nearly half of schoolchildren had low serum zinc concentration. CONCLUSION: Stunting and low serum zinc levels were significant in schoolchildren. Mean serum iron, TIBC, and stunting were significantly higher in children with STH infection. Regular deworming of schoolchildren and supplementing diets with rich in the micronutrients were recommended.