Intestinal parasitic infection as an associated risk factor for severe acute malnutrition in rural children in age group 6m-5 yrs of Raipur district: A case control study

Background: Malnutrition is a major public health problem in India, particularly in Chhattisgarh State with 18.9% under five children being wasted. Various factors like maternal nutrition, lack of sanitation and recurrent infection including parasitic have been documented risk factors. But the role of specific intestinal parasites and their contribution towards malnutrition are yet to be established. Objectives: To find the association of intestinal parasitic infection with severe acute malnutrition and to explore the association between intestinal parasitic infection with various cultural and demographic risk factors. Material and Methods: It was a community-based case control study done in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. A total of 190 patients were enrolled. 95 cases with severe acute malnutrition were selected from nutritional rehabilitation centers of Raipur District and control were children with normal nutritional status. Demographic data were collected with a structured questionnaire, and pooled stool samples were collected and examined in the Microbiology Laboratory of the Institute to see any associated parasitic infections. Results: The prevalence of parasitic infection was 8.4% among the cases and 2.1% among the controls. Giardiasis was the most common intestinal parasitic infection. Risk factors associated with parasitic infection were keeping long nails, eating food fallen on the ground and not maintaining hand hygiene. Illiterate mothers, not starting complementary feeds on time and poor socioeconomic status were the risk factors associated with SAM. No statistically significant association was found between severe acute malnutrition and parasitic infections in our study. Yet the number of children found infected with parasitic infection which were more in the cases group. However, parasitic infection as an independent risk factor for SAM could not be established. Conclusion: The study concluded that intestinal parasitic infection is not an associated risk factor for severe acute malnutrition. Ill-literate mother and practice of eating food fallen on the ground are risk factors for parasitic infection.