Impact of iron supplementation on schistosomiasis control in Zambian school children in a highly endemic area |
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Authors: | Victor Mwanakasale Seter Siziya James Mwansa Artemis Koukounari Alan Fenwick |
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Institution: | 1.Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia;2.University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia;3.University Teaching Hospital/Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Lusaka, Zambia;4.Senior Research Statistician, Schistosomiasis Control Initiative-Imperial College, London, United Kingdom;5.Schistosomiasis Control Initiative-Imperial College, London, United Kingdom |
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Abstract: | AimTo 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.MethodsPupils in the intervention group received once weekly dose of ferrous sulphate at 200mg while those in the control received once weekly vitamin C at 100mg for up to 9 months. Both study groups received a single dose of praziquantel at baseline.ResultsS 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.ConclusionOnce 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.Clinical trials.gov identifier{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT 00276224","term_id":"NCT00276224"}}NCT 00276224, sponsored by DBL-Institute for Health Research and Development, Denmark. |
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