Nutritional Status among Schoolchildren in the Risk Areas of Liver Fluke Infection, Surin Province, Thailand
Naporn Uengarporn MD*,**, Likit Matrakool MD**,***, Soraya J. Kaewpitoon MD**,****,*****, Ratana Rujirakul Med*****, Seekaow Churproong MD**,****, Natthawut Kaewpitoon PhD**,*****,******
Affiliation : * School of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand ** Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand *** School of Surgery, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand **** School of Family Medicine and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand ***** Parasitic Disease Research Unit, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand ****** Faculty of Public Health, Vongchavalitkul University, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Background : Opisthorchis viverrini is endemic in the Lower Mekong Basin, including Thailand, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic, Cambodia, and central Vietnam. This figure indicates that it is a serious public health problem in Thailand,
particularly in northeastern and northern region.
Objective : To survey the nutritional status among schoolchildren including the association between nutritional status and
related O. viverrini infection that is reported in their living areas.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional survey of nutritional status among schoolchildren was conducted in the rural
communities of Surin province, Thailand, between September 2013 and July 2014. Nutritional evaluations, Socio-economic,
and family information were collected through questionnaires. Four hundred sixty two children aged between 6 to 14 years
were enrolled. Pearson correlation test and multiple logistic regression were used in this study.
Results : Most respondents who answered the questionnaire were mother (37.23%), and followed by children (34.41), female
(51.73%), and age rank older than 9 to 12 years old (41.99%). Schoolchildren were evaluated for weigh for age, which
resulted in normal weight (60.82%), wasting (8.01%), underweight (7.58%), obesity (2.38%), and overweight (1.95%).
Height for age was divided into normal height (60.17%), stunting (0.74%), slightly short (4.76%), tall (3.46%), and slightly
tall (2.6%). Weight for height was divided into appropriate (54.11%), thin (10.82%), slightly thin (8.02%), obesity (2.38%),
and morbid obesity (1.73%). Children were not infected with O. viverrini in this study even if 15.8% of them consumed under-
cooked particularly cyprinoid fish. Children with slightly underweight was statistically significant associated with O. viverrini
infection (Adjust R square = 0.445, p<0.05). The equation for prediction of liver fluke infection among schoolchildren who
had slightly underweight is Y = -0.508 + 0.517 X12 and Z = 0.694 X12.
Conclusion : The present study indicates that stunting, underweight and wasting children were found in high infectious areas
of O. viverrini. Slightly underweight was associated with infection. Therefore, implementation of nutrient in this group is
urgently required. Furthermore, health education for children and relative family should be encouraged for further campaign
in this province.
Keywords : Nutrition, Schoolchildren, Liver fluke, Surin province, Thailand
