The relationship between malnutrition and malaria in underfive children in Menji

CaHReF 2016, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PP06

Children under-five years of age represent the most vulnerable population to malaria as well as malnutrition. Although numerous studies have shown a deleterious effect of malaria on nutritional status, few have investigated whether malnutrition influences the prevalence of malaria. Against this background, a cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating the impact of Protein Energy Malnutrition on the prevalence of malaria in children less than five years of age was carried out in the Menji health area, Fontem Health District.

The sample population consisted of children recruited at Mary Health of Africa Hospital following a sensitisation campaign. A questionnaire was administered to obtain socio-demographic data, the household diet diversity score (HDDS), individual diet diversity score (IDDS), bed net use and history of recent use of anti-malaria drugs. Anthropometric assessment were carried out followed by collection of finger prick blood sample for screening and speciation of malaria parasites with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and Giemsa stained thick blood films respectively. Haemoglobin levels were also measured. Protein Energy Malnutrition was classified using the World Health Organisation classification with height for age (stunting), weight for height (wasting) and weight for age (under-weight) indices.

A total of 325 children were included in the study (48% were males and 52% were females). The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 9.2%, 24% and 4.9% respectively. The majority of children (70.77%) were anaemic. There was a large scale use of bed nets (77.54%). The prevalence of malaria in the study population was 4%. The prevalence of malaria in non-malnourished (3.42%), underweight (5.55%), stunted (1.28%) and wasted (9.52%) children was similar. Although there was a positive association between HDDS and IDDS, there was no association between IDDS and nutritional status

this study showed that the nutritional status in children aged 6-59 months in the Menji health area was in accordance with national and regional trends; and prevalence of malaria infection was not affected by the nutritional status.

malnutrition, malaria, underfive children, Menji.