Search Results (27)

Background: Foundational learning spaces in South Africa, designed to nurture growth and development, continue to grapple with malnutrition, a persistent barrier to the health, cognitive potential, and wellbeing of preschool-aged children, amidst a nutrition transition. Aim: This study assessed dietary diversity, nutritional status, and their associations among children aged 2–5 years attending funded Early Learning Centres (ELCs) in Johannesburg (Region C). Methods: Using systematic random sampling across 33 nutrition-funded ELCs in Region C, we assessed the nutritional status of children aged 2–5 years with WHO Anthro software (z-score cut-offs for undernutrition: stunting, underweight, thinness; overnutrition: overweight, obesity). Dietary diversity scores (DDSs) were derived from a 24 h recall of 16 food groups, classified by primary nutrient contributions (some groups spanning multiple classes), and categorized as low (≤8) or normal (≥9). Associations between DDS and nutritional indicators were analyzed using Poisson regression to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs). Results: Despite structured feeding practices, all ELCs reported inadequate nutritional funding, prompting calls for dietitian support. While 27% sourced groceries from wholesalers, most relied on supermarkets and spaza shops; all had cooking infrastructure, but only 12% had food gardens, and 88% expressed interest in establishing them to improve dietary diversity. The mean DDS was 9.47 (±1.07), and 83% of children had a normal DDS (≥9), with common consumption of cereals (100%), vitamin A-rich vegetables (100%), oils (100%), and leafy greens (96%), but limited intake of protein-rich foods like eggs (7%), legumes (19%), and fish (37%). A dual burden of malnutrition was observed: 31% of children were stunted and 30% were overweight or obese. Multivariable analysis showed that boys had significantly lower odds of stunting compared to girls (aPR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.01–0.74), while younger age (aPR = 0.61; 95%CI: 0.37–0.85) and low DDS (aPR = −0.15; 95%CI: −0.29–−0.06) were independently associated with increased risk of stunting. Age was positively associated with underweight (aPR = 1.27; 95%CI: 0.58–1.96), and thinness was strongly associated with boys (aPR = 17.00; 95%CI: 15.12–18.74), with a marginal association with age. Conclusions: Integrated nutrition strategies are critical to addressing the dual burden of stunting and being overweight in urban ELCs. Strengthening funding, professional dietetic support, and promoting food gardens can enhance dietary diversity and child health outcomes. Full article

Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of malnutrition—including stunting, thinness, overweight, and obesity—among Vietnamese children aged 6–17 years, and to identify demographic, geographic, and behavioral correlates to inform targeted nutrition interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional, nationally representative study was conducted from January 2024 to June 2025 using data from the MIDU Assessment Program. A multistage stratified random sampling approach recruited 43,505 children aged 6–17 years across all regions of Vietnam. Anthropometric measurements were obtained following WHO 2007 growth reference standards. Stunting was defined as height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) < −2 SD, and overweight/obesity as body mass index-for-age Z-score (BAZ) > +1 SD. Data on demographic characteristics, sleep patterns, sports participation, vitamin K₂ use, and pubertal status were collected via structured questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with stunting and overweight/obesity. Results: Overall, 3.9% were stunted, 5.1% were thin, 20.7% were overweight, and 11.4% were obese; 8.6% had any undernutrition and 39.5% had any form of malnutrition. Stunting was significantly associated with being male (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.24–1.52), older age—particularly 14–17 years (OR = 6.56, 95% CI: 5.48–7.84)—and residing in the Northern midlands, North Central, South Central, and Central Highlands regions. In contrast, frequent sports participation (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68–0.84), daily vitamin K₂–MK₇ use (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72–0.93), and having reached puberty (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.22–0.30) were associated with lower odds of stunting. For overweight and obesity, lower odds were found among females (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.46–0.51) and older children, while higher odds occurred among those living in the Southeast (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.36–1.53) and Mekong River Delta (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.24–1.48) regions. Early sleep (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87–0.95) and sports participation (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.11) showed modest associations, whereas vitamin K₂ use and puberty were not significant predictors. Conclusions: Vietnamese school-aged children face a significant rate of malnutrition, with regional, gender, and age disparities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Undernutrition and intestinal parasitic infections are critical public health problems in low-income countries, with adverse effects on child growth and increasing anaemia. Madagascar, with a high prevalence of these factors, lacks comprehensive studies analysing their interaction. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status, the prevalence of anaemia, and the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections among children and adolescents in three southern regions of Madagascar. Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study of 289 children and adolescents (10–18 years) from three schools located in Antsoamadiro, Fianarantsoa, and Toliara was conducted. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and haemoglobin concentration data, as well as faecal samples, were collected. Nutritional status was assessed by Nutrimetry, combining Height-for-Age and BMI-for-Age indicators. Stool samples were analysed by optical microscopy and molecular methods. Results: Nutricode 1 (short stature/stunting + thinness/wasting) was significantly more frequent in Toliara. Nutricode 1 was also significantly more prevalent in males than females. Anaemia affected 57.8% of participants and was significantly associated with Nutricode 1. The overall parasitism rate was also associated with Nutricode 1. Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides significantly increased the risk of stunting, wasting, and Nutricode 1. Co-infection with Trichuris trichiura + Giardia duodenalis was significantly associated with wasting and Nutricode 1. This co-infection was also related to the presence of anaemia, as was moderate-intensity infection with T. trichiura. Conclusions: There is a high co-burden of undernutrition, anaemia, and parasitic infections in southern Madagascar. These findings highlight the urgency of implementing comprehensive health programmes combining parasite control, nutritional support, and iron supplementation adapted to regional realities. Full article

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess complementary feeding practices and dietary diversity in relation to the nutritional status of children under five attending health facilities in the Thabazimbi sub-district, Limpopo Province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 mother–child pairs. Data on socio-demographics, feeding practices, and anthropometry were collected using validated tools. Nutritional status was assessed using WHO growth standards, and dietary diversity was evaluated using WHO infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators and a 24 h dietary recall. Associations were analyzed using prevalence ratios in STATA 18. Results: Among 409 children (median age: 18 months, IQR: 12–24), 38% were stunted, 13% were underweight, 5% were thin, and 17% were overweight/obese. Exclusive breastfeeding was reported in 27%, and only 24% met the minimum dietary diversity (DDS ≥ 4). Complementary feeding practices varied significantly by maternal age, with mixed feeding more common among older mothers and younger mothers more likely to receive feeding advice (p = 0.001). Stunting was associated with being a boy (PR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.00–1.61), age > 24 months (PR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.16–0.65), and DDS ≥ 4 (PR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.52–0.99). Underweight was more prevalent among boys (PR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.40–4.11), but less likely in children with DDS ≥ 4 (PR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.20–0.92) and those from spouse-headed households (PR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13–0.87). Thinness was associated with DDS ≥ 4 (PR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.13–6.45) and age 12–24 months (PR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.02–7.64). Overweight/obesity was linked to age 12–24 months (PR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.25–3.03) and household income > ZAR 15,000 (PR = 4.09; 95% CI: 2.33–7.17). Conclusions: Complementary feeding and dietary diversity deficits contribute significantly to the dual burden of malnutrition in rural Limpopo, highlighting the need for targeted, context-specific nutrition interventions. Full article

Background: Almost half of all deaths worldwide in children under five are related to malnutrition. Malnutrition encompasses a wide array of nutritional conditions and emerging evidence indicates a growing overlap of these different forms of malnutrition. Nutrimetry, which combines assessments of height-for-age (HAZ) with BMI-for-age (BMIZ) to offer a more integrated assessment of nutritional status, can be particularly useful in low-resource settings to correctly reflect the complex interplay of stunting and overweight. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the impact of malnutrition on children in Madagascar and demonstrate how integrating HAZ assessments with BMIZ can reveal the double burden of malnutrition—encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition—within the same population. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study employing Nutrimetry was carried out in rural communities in the Itasy region of Madagascar. A systematic random sampling method was used to choose the 500 women to invite to participate from the approximately 5000 who formed the pool of potential participants. A total of 437 were able to be invited and all invited women agreed to participate, resulting in 437 mother–child (0–24 months) pairs being included in the study. Results: Chronic undernutrition or thinness (31.6%), overweight and obesity (21.3%), and stunting (57.6%) were prevalent among the children included in the study. Among children with chronic undernutrition, 55.06% were identified as stunted. Among children with overweight or obese, 61.03% were identified as stunted. This highlights a significant overlap between inadequate weight and stunting. A socioeconomic analysis revealed significant barriers, including limited financial resources and poor dietary diversity, exacerbating malnutrition. Maternal nutritional status and breastfeeding practices also emerged as critical determinants of child nutritional outcomes. Conclusions: The study underscores the importance of prioritizing height assessments as a preliminary step in nutritional evaluations to prevent undetected acute malnutrition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Limited data exist on the nutritional status of Vietnamese children aged 5 years and older. This study aimed to (1) determine the nutritional status and (2) assess the associations between malnutrition and socio-demographic factors among children and adolescents aged 5–19 years old in selected provinces in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 3055 children aged 5–19 years old. Children’s weight and height were collected to calculate BMI for Age Z-score and Height for Age Z-score to determine the prevalence of overweight/obesity, stunting, thinness/underweight, stunted-overweight, stunted-underweight, at least one type of undernutrition, and at least one type of malnutrition. Results: The prevalence of stunting and thinness/underweight was around 10%, overweight and obesity was 14.5%, while the prevalence of malnutrition was 36.5%, with 19.7% of children experiencing at least one form of undernutrition. Significant associations were found between malnutrition and socio-demographic factors such as age, ethnicity, and the number of household possessions. Stunting was more prevalent among older children and those from lower-income households, whereas overweight and obesity were more common in wealthier families. Conclusions: These novel findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing both undernutrition and obesity in Vietnam’s diverse demographic groups. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to determine the malnutrition status, prevalence of intestinal parasites and anaemia, and the hygiene and sanitation conditions of children participating in the nutritional recovery programme at Las Salinas school of the ONG Bel Avenir in Toliara (Madagascar). The ultimate goal of the ONG Bel Avenir is to apply synergistic strategies to effectively combat malnutrition. Methods: A total of 49 schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 years enrolled in the nutritional recovery programme were studied. Data collection included sociodemographic information, hygiene and sanitation practices, and haematological and anthropometric measurements. Results: All participants were found to have anaemia. Regarding intestinal parasites, Giardia intestinalis was detected in 93.9% of cases, and Trichuris trichiura was identified in 28.6% of cases. Nutritional assessments revealed that 100% of the participants experienced thinness or acute malnutrition, while 32.6% exhibited stunting or impaired growth. Conclusions: The findings underscore the critical relationship between nutritional status and factors such as parasitology, haematology, and hygiene. Tools like the Nutrimetry assessment enable more specific diagnostics, guiding targeted interventions to address malnutrition. This study highlights the urgent need for policies and collaborative actions to improve the health conditions of the children in Madagascar. Full article

Introduction: Nutritional issues, including overweight and obesity, along with the rising number of immigrants facing their own nutritional problems, continue to keep Chile on alert. Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological and nutritional status changes among Chilean and immigrant boys, girls, and adolescents (BGA) in schools evaluated by the National Board of School Aid and Scholarships (JUNAEB) from 2013 to 2023. Methods: This descriptive study analyzed individual, anonymous, and de-identified data on the nutritional status of BGA in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, fifth grade, and the first year of high school using the JUNAEB Nutritional Map. Results: The sample consisted of 8,128,014 BGA, 49.2% women and 50.8% men. In 2013, immigrant BGA represented 0.4% of the total number of children evaluated, and by 2023, this percentage increased to 7.9%. It was observed that Chilean BGA had a lower proportion of thinness, risk of thinness, stunting, and normal weight, but a higher proportion of overnutrition compared to immigrants, similar to observations made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparisons by sex showed that Chilean and immigrant women had a lower percentage of thinness, risk of thinness, obesity, severe obesity, and stunting, and a higher proportion of normal weight when compared to men. Conclusions: The rise in immigrant BGA within the Chilean school system, together with the nutritional differences between both groups, highlights the need to consider these particularities when designing nutritional public policies in the health and education sectors. Full article

Background: Malnutrition among adolescents is a major public health issue. This problem is particularly pressing in Sudan, an African country where there is scarce published data on the nutritional status of adolescents. In this study, we aimed to assess the nutritional status of adolescents in eastern Sudan. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in Gadarif, eastern Sudan. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, and the anthropometric measurements (weight and height) of adolescent participants were recorded. Height-for-age and body mass index-for-age Z-scores were calculated using the WHO anthropometric standards. Binary and multivariate multinomial regression analyses were performed. Results: A total of 388 adolescents were included in this survey, 207 (53.4%) were female, and 181 (46.6%) were male. The median (interquartile) age was 13.9 (12.0–16.0) years. The results showed that a total of 29 (7.5%), 93 (24.0%), 33 (8.5%), and 16 (4.1%) adolescents were stunted, thin, overweight, and obese, respectively. None of the investigated factors (age, sex, parents’ education levels, and occupation) were associated with stunting. In the multivariate multinomial analysis, the male sex was associated with thinness (OR = 2.41, 95.0% CI = 1.47–3.94). Moreover, adolescents whose mothers had an education lower than secondary level were at a lower risk of overweight/obesity (OR = 0. 0.35, 95.0% CI = 0. 0.35). Conclusions: While both undernutrition and overnutrition exist in eastern Sudan, undernutrition is more common. Male sex and mothers’ education levels are associated with malnutrition. Full article

India’s indigenous groups remain vulnerable to malnutrition, despite economic progress, reflecting the reliance on traditional agriculture and the problems of poverty and inadequate education and sanitation. This mixed-methods study analyzed the incidence, causes and determinants of chronic malnutrition, measured through stunting, thinness and underweight among adolescent indigenous girls in Telangana. Using 2017 data on 695 girls aged 11–18 years from 2542 households, the analysis showed that 13% had normal nutritional status, while 87% were stunted, underweight or thin. Early adolescents (11–14 years) had higher underweight prevalence (24.4%), while late adolescents (15–18 years) showed greater stunting (30%). Regressions identified key influencing factors. Higher education levels of heads of households and the girls themselves alongside household toilet access significantly improved nutritional status and reduced stunting and underweight. The sociocultural emphasis on starchy staple-based diets and early marriage also impacted outcomes. Tackling this crisis requires mainstreaming nutrition across development agendas via comprehensive policies, education, communication and community participation. Further research can guide context-specific solutions. But, evidence-based investments in indigenous education, livelihoods, sanitation and women’s empowerment are the first steps. Nutrition-sensitive development is indispensable for indigenous groups to fully participate in and benefit from India’s progress. Full article

Stand density is an important index of forest structure, which strongly affects local environments and functions in the forest. Many black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) plantations with low quality in the Loess hilly region are assumed to be caused by inappropriate stand density. In this study, the growth status, spatio-temporal variations in soil water and nutrient conditions were investigated in the nearly middle-aged plantations with three density classes. The proportion of stunted trees increased with the increase in density class. The stands of <2500 stems ha⁻¹ not only had the distribution peak of diameter at breast height (DBH) being at a larger diameter class, but also showed relatively rapid growths in diameter and biomass per tree. However, stand density did not show a significant effect on the growth rate of both mean tree height and biomass density. The maximum biomass density and relatively high soil NH₄⁺-N content appeared in the density class of 2500–3500 stems ha⁻¹. The temporal stability of soil water content (SWC) on a seasonal scale increased with the deepening of the soil layer, and spatio-temporal variations in the SWC remained relatively stable in the deep layer (200–300 cm). While the infiltration depth after rainfall was rainfall-amount-dependent, the depth of effective replenishment reduced with the density class increasing. The average SWC and its temporal stability in 0–300 cm of soil layer are the best in a stand density of less than 2500 stems ha⁻¹. No significant differences were observed among the stand density classes in the contents of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, NO₃⁻-N, and available phosphorus in soils of these nearly middle-aged plantations that have experienced similar management history since the afforestation of abandoned cropland. Overall, the stand condition of density class I is superior at present. But thinning of stand density may be needed to maintain the best stand conditions in the future, with the stand age increasing. The results contribute to further understanding of the relations between density gradient and multiple variables in the plantations, which offer a reference for the forest management and sustainable development of ecosystems in the semiarid region of the Loess Plateau. Full article

Impaired linear growth and slower pubertal growth can be associated with perinatal HIV infection. We characterised growth relative to population norms, among the full adolescent period in southern Africa to better understand processes leading to morbidity in adulthood. We conducted a secondary analysis of 945 adolescents aged 8–20 years from urban Malawi and Zimbabwe; we included children with HIV (CWH), an uninfected comparison group from a cohort study, and CWH with co-morbid chronic lung disease (CLD) from a randomised controlled trial. We used latent class analysis of anthropometric Z-scores generated from British 1990 reference equations at two annual time-points, to identify growth trajectory profiles and used multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with growth profiles. Growth faltering (one or more of weight-for-age, height-for-age, or BMI-for-age Z-scores < −2) occurred in 38% (116/303) of CWH from the cohort study, 62% (209/336) of CWH with CLD, and 14% (44/306) of HIV-uninfected participants. We identified seven different growth profiles, defined, relatively, as (1) average growth, (2) tall not thin, (3) short not thin, (4) stunted not thin, (5) thin not stunted, (6) thin and stunted and (7) very thin and stunted. Females in profile 3 exhibited the highest body fat percentage, which increased over 1 year. Males at older age and CWH especially those with CLD were more likely to fall into growth profiles 4–7. Improvements in height-for-age Z-scores were observed in profiles 6–7 over 1 year. Interventions to target those with the worst growth faltering and longer-term follow-up to assess the impact on adult health are warranted. Full article

Most children in South Africa attending public schools are predisposed to malnutrition due to poor infrastructure and social inequality. This is despite the implementation of the National School Nutrition Programme to address barriers to learning associated with hunger and malnutrition and the National Development Plan to reduce child malnutrition through provision of social grants. In view of this, we compared malnutrition indicators and associated socio-demographic factors among children in rural Mpumalanga and urban Gauteng in South African public primary schools selected using a multistage cluster random sampling. A validated researcher-administered questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data of caregivers, along with primary school children data collected on age, sex, learning grade, and anthropometric measures. Malnutrition indicators, which are stunting (low height-for-age z-scores), underweight (low weight-for-age z-scores), thinness (low body-mass-index-for-age z-scores), and overweight/obesity (high body mass index) were computed using WHO Anthro Plus 1.0.4 and data were analyzed using Stata 18. A total of 903 children (rural = 390 and urban = 513) with a mean age of 10 ± 2 years in the foundation phase (learning grades one to three) and the intermediate learning phase (learning grades four to seven) participated with their caregivers (mean age: 39 ± 8 years). Significant levels of poor socio-demographic status were observed among caregivers living in the rural setting compared to in the urban setting. Overall, thinness (18%), stunting (12%), underweight (10%), and overweight/obesity (24%) were observed among school children. Children in the rural schools had a significantly higher prevalence of stunting (20% vs. 3%; p < 0.0001), underweight (17% vs. 2%; p < 0.0001) and thinness (28% vs. 7%; p < 0.001) than their urban counterparts. In the urban, the odds of stunting, underweight and thinness were less among school children, while overweight/obesity was twice as likely in the urban setting. The multivariate final model showed lower odds of underweight [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06–0.42] and stunting [AOR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13–0.87] in the urban compared to the rural schools. The association of stunting with sex [AOR =0.53; 95% CI: 0.30–0.94] and the intermediate learning phase [AOR = 7.87; 95% CI: 4.48–13.82] was observed in the rural setting, while thinness was associated with living in households with an income of USD 52.51 to USD 262.60/month [AOR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.01–8.24] and receiving the child social grant [AOR = 2.49; 0.90–6.86] in the urban setting. Overweight/obesity was associated with living in a household with an income of USD 52.51 to USD 262.60/month [AOR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.02–3.10]. The findings suggest nutritional intervention approaches that are accustomed to the context of settings to effectively tackle malnutrition. Full article

Malnutrition includes both under-nutrition and over-nutrition, which have negative health impacts and social consequences. The present study aims to understand the demographic dynamics, burden of chronic illnesses, and risk factors associated with malnutrition (stunting, thinness, and obesity) among different age groups in urban and rural areas. Data were collected through a cross-sectional study conducted in an urban area in Hyderabad and four rural villages in Andhra Pradesh. A multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors associated with malnutrition among different age groups. The final analysis included the data of 10,350 individuals, consisting of 8317 (80.4%) from urban areas and 2033 (19.6%) from rural areas. The number of known cases of hypertension in the urban area was 926 (11.1%) and 114 (5.6%) in the rural areas, and that of diabetes was 511 (6.1%) in the urban area and 104 (5.1%) in the rural areas. The burden of stunting among under-five children and obesity among adults was 33.7% (95% CI; 29.7–37.9) and 47.4% (95% CI; 45.8–49.1), respectively. Adults aged 40–59 years (AOR 1.91; 1.59–2.28) and belonging to a clerical/skilled (AOR 1.32; 1.03–1.71) occupation were at higher odds of obesity compared to their counterparts. Policymakers and health practitioners should consider the insights from our findings to tailor effective interventions to address malnutrition. Full article

Despite continuous efforts to control schistosomiasis (SCH) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it still poses a significant challenge. In order to enhance control measures, additional research is necessary. This study documents the burden of SCH infection and its predictors in a rural area of the DRC. We conducted a household cross-sectional study from June to August 2021 among 480 school-aged children (SAC) aged 5–15 years living in a rural area of Kisangi, in the southwest DRC. We collected and examined stool, urine, and blood samples of each child. Additionally, we obtained data on anthropometry, socio-demographics, household information, and individual water contact behaviors. The overall prevalence of SCH infection was 55.8% (95% CI: 51.4–60.3), with prevalences of 41% (95% CI: 36.6–45.5), 36.3% (95% CI: 31.9–40.6), and 38.4% (95% CI: 32.6–44.3) for S. haematobium and S. mansoni infections and both infections, respectively. Among those with SCH infection, most had a light (67.5%) or heavy (51.7%) infection intensity. The geometric mean egg count was 16.6 EP 10 mL (95% CI: 12.9–21.3) for S. haematobium and 390.2 EPG (95% CI: 300.2–507.3) for S. mansoni. However, age (10 years and above (aOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.5–3.1; p < 0.001)) was an independent risk factor for SCH infection. The overall prevalence of malaria infection was 16.9% (95% CI: 13.5–20.2), that of stunting was 28.7% (95% CI: 24.7–32.8), that of underweight was 17.1% (95% CI: 12.8–21.4), and that of thinness was 7.1% (95% CI: 4.8–9.4). Anemia was prevalent at 49.4% (95% CI: 44.9–5), and the median Hb level of all participants was 11.6 g/dL (IQR: 10.5–12.6 g/dL). Anemia was strongly associated with SCH infection (aOR: 3.4; 95% CI: 2.3–5.1; p < 0.001) yet there was no association with the risk for malaria infection (aOR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6–1.8; p = 0.563). In addition, the risk of anemia increased with heavy infection intensities (p < 0.026 and p < 0.013 for S. haematobium and S. mansoni, respectively). However, stunting had a protective factor for anemia (aOR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2–0.4; p < 0.001). To conclude, SCH infection was widespread among the SAC and strongly linked to anemia. These results provide evidence of the hyperendemicity of infection in the study area, which requires preventative measures such as chemotherapy to reduce the schistosomiasis-associated morbidity, and micronutrient supplements to avoid anemia. Full article