Neglected Tropical Disease baseline data report for the 3 pilot provinces

The first baseline data collection took place from July to September 2007 in the provinces of Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bururi.

The first baseline data collection took place from July to September 2007 in the provinces of Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bururi.

In these 3 provinces, 12 primary schools were selected from 3 different strata:

• onchocerciasis-, schistosomiasis- and STHs-endemic areas;
• onchocerciasis- and STHs-endemic areas;
• STHs only endemic areas.

In each school, approximately 300 children (100 first years, 100 second years and 100 last years) were randomly selected and demographical, anthropometric and parasitological data on schistosomiasis and STHs were collected.

The full set of data, collected on a total of 3,616 children, was analysed by SCI and the main results are presented below.

According to the WHO guidelines, the overall prevalence of S. mansoni was medium but varied greatly from school to school (Fig 1). Similarly, most children bore a light intensity infection (Fig2).

Figure 1

* Three schools (i.e. Condi, Gatwe and Ruko schools in Bururi province) do not appear in this graph because the prevalence of S. mansoni infection was null.

Figure 2

Like for schistosomiasis, the overall prevalence of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm infections seem to be low according to the WHO guidelines, while they varied significantly between schools (Fig 3). Again, most children bore a light intensity infection for any of the three soil-transmitted helminths.

Figure 3

Anaemia was also surveyed in the pupils of the 12 schools. The data revealed an overall prevalence of anaemia ranging around 23.4% (95% CI: 21.8-24.9) with some variation from school to school (Fig 4).

Figure 4

Moreover, from height and weight measurements, it was estimated that 41.8% (95% CI: 40.1-43.4) of the children tested were wasted (recent malnutrition), while 33.1% (95% CI: 31.6-34.7) of them were stunted (chronic malnutrition).

This type of data will be collected from the same children every year in order to witness any modification in each indicator and thus assess the impact of the programme on the overall health of the Burundian population.