Impact of iron supplementation on schistosomiasis control in Zambian school children in a highly endemic area.
Mwanakasale, Victor;
Siziya, Seter;
Mwansa, James;
Koukounari, Artemis;
Fenwick, Alan;
(2009)
Impact of iron supplementation on schistosomiasis control in Zambian school children in a highly endemic area.
Malawi Medical Journal, 21 (1).
pp. 12-18.
ISSN 1995-7262
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v21i1.10982
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AIM: To study impact of once weekly iron supplementation on praziquantel cure rate, Schistosoma haematobium reinfection, and haematological parameters in pupils aged between 9 and 15 years of age in Nchelenge district, Zambia. METHODS: Pupils in the intervention group received once weekly dose of ferrous sulphate at 200 mg while those in the control received once weekly vitamin C at 100 mg for up to 9 months. Both study groups received a single dose of praziquantel at baseline. RESULTS: S haematobium reinfection intensity was significantly lower in boys in the intervention group than in boys in the control group at 6 months (P < 0.001) and 9 months (P < 0.001) of supplementation. Significantly lower S haematobium reinfection intensity was found in girls in the intervention group than in girls in the control group only at 6 months of supplementation (P = 0.018). Boys in the intervention group were 42% (Adjusted Risk Ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.39, 0.86) less likely to be reinfected with S haematobium than in the control group at 6 months follow up. CONCLUSION: Once weekly iron supplementation can decrease S haematobium reinfection after 6 months and should be incorporated into school based schistosomiasis control programs in highly endemic areas.