Abstract
Background
Despite a reduction in the magnitude of endemic malaria reported in recent years, malaria and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) still remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five. The relationship between malaria and malnutrition remains a topic of controversy. We aimed to investigate malaria infection according to nutritional status in a community-based survey.
Methods
A cohort of 790 children aged 6 to 59 months and residing in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was followed-up from April 2009 to March 2010 with monthly visits. Data on nutritional status, morbidity between visits, use of insecticide-treated nets and malaria parasitemia were collected at each visit. The Z scores height for age, weight for age and weight for height were computed using the reference population defined by the WHO in 2006. Thresholds for Z scores were defined at −3 and −2. A binary logistic model of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to quantify the association between PEM indicators and malaria parasitemia. Odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were computed.
Results
After adjustment for season, children with severe stunting (height for age Z score < −3) were at lower risk of malaria parasitemia greater or equal to 5000 trophozoits/μL of blood as compared to those in with a better nutritional status (height for age Z score ≥ −2) (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25–0.91).
Conclusion
Severely stunted children are at a lower risk of high-level malaria parasitemia.
Despite a reduction in the magnitude of endemic malaria reported in recent years, malaria and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) still remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five. The relationship between malaria and malnutrition remains a topic of controversy. We aimed to investigate malaria infection according to nutritional status in a community-based survey.
Methods
A cohort of 790 children aged 6 to 59 months and residing in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was followed-up from April 2009 to March 2010 with monthly visits. Data on nutritional status, morbidity between visits, use of insecticide-treated nets and malaria parasitemia were collected at each visit. The Z scores height for age, weight for age and weight for height were computed using the reference population defined by the WHO in 2006. Thresholds for Z scores were defined at −3 and −2. A binary logistic model of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to quantify the association between PEM indicators and malaria parasitemia. Odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were computed.
Results
After adjustment for season, children with severe stunting (height for age Z score < −3) were at lower risk of malaria parasitemia greater or equal to 5000 trophozoits/μL of blood as compared to those in with a better nutritional status (height for age Z score ≥ −2) (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25–0.91).
Conclusion
Severely stunted children are at a lower risk of high-level malaria parasitemia.
| Translated title of the contribution | Malaria infection and nutritional status: Results from a cohort survey of children from 6–59 months old in the Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|---|---|
| Original language | French |
| Journal | Revue d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 111-120 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 0398-7620 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- Protozoal diseases
- Malaria
- Plasmodium falciparum
- Vectors
- Mosquitoes
- Anopheles
- Health impact
- Nutrition status
- Malnutrition
- Stunting
- Protein energy malnutrition
- Children
- Morbidity
- Appropriate use
- Impregnated bednets
- Insecticides
- Parasitemia
- Risk
- Congo-Kinshasa
- Africa-Central