EFFECT OF VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTS ON MALARIA AND HELMINTHS INFECTIONS AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS IN MICHIKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted in Primary Health Care Facilities in Michika Local Government Area in Adamawa State of Nigeria between April and August 2021 to assess the effect of Vitamin A supplement (VAS) on malaria and helminths infection among children under 5 years with the aim to determine the prevalence and intensity of malaria and helminths infection.  Blood and stool specimen was collected from each child to detect malaria and helminths parasite microscopically. Ethical approval was obtained from the Primary Health Care Department and the consent of the mother/caregiver was sought for and obtained. A total of 398 children were selected for the study. The result of malaria infection showed that (32.2%) were positive for those that received VAS and (38.2%) were positive for those without vitamin A supplement. The result also showed that (13.6%) were positive for helminths among those that received VAS and (18.3%) among those without VAS. Intensity of malaria infection were also recorded which showed that (35.2%) had light infection (+) for malaria and (7.04%) had moderate infection (++) for those that received VAS. For those without VAS (17.6%) light infection (+) and   (10.6%) moderate infection (++) for malaria infection. The intensity of helminths was also recorded which showed (8.8%) had light infection (+), (3.5%) had moderate infection (++) among those with VAS, while (13.1%) had light infection (+), (6.5%) had moderate infection (++) among those without VAS. There was significance different in malaria and helminths prevalance among children that received VAS and those who did not have VAS (p<0.05). Malaria and helminths infection have also assess by gender and age of the participants, which showed that female had higher malaria (51.07%) and helminth (54.3%) infections while male children (48.9%) malaria and (45.7%). Children aged 0-13 months had higher malaria (34.3%) and children aged 44-59 months had lower malaria (15.2%)   The prevalence of malaria and helminths infections  recorded among the children in the study area could be due to inability of mother/caregiver to bring their children regularly for immunization, or it might be as a result of this age group are more exposure to mosquito bite as they usually play outside at night.