@Article{
AUTHOR = {Mohamedine, Ouldbezeid Mohamedine and Mohamed, Salka Mint Mohamed and Mohamed, Abdou Mohamed and Moukah, Mohamed Ouldabdallahi Moukah},
TITLE = {The Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Infections Among Children Under 5 Years of Age in the Senegal River Valley, Mauritania},
JOURNAL = {African Journal of Parasitology, Mycology and Entomology},
VOLUME = {3},
YEAR = {2025},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {0--0},
URL = {https://ajpme.jams.pub/article/3/1/288},
ISSN = {1987-1473},
ABSTRACT = {Background: Anemia, malaria, and intestinal parasitic infection pose significant health threats to children in developing countries, adversely affecting their cognitive development and nutritional status and increasing their susceptibility to other infectious diseases. In Mauritania, the high prevalence of anemia, particularly in rural areas, along the Senegal River is alarmingly high and remains a critical public health concern. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between August and October 2022 in six health facilities along the Mauritanian side of the Senegal River. Anemia was defined according to WHO criteria, and hemoglobin levels were measured using a HemoCue® Hb 301 analyzer. Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infection was diagnosed using the adhesive tape (Scotch tape test) method. Malaria was diagnosed via thick blood smears stained with 10% Giemsa and examined under a microscope. Although thin smears were not performed due to resource limitations, Plasmodium falciparum was identified based on its distinctive morphological features observed in thick smears. Results: Anemia was detected in 75.1% of the 361 children enrolled, with a mean hemoglobin level of 7.3 g/dL. The highest prevalence (90%) was found among children aged 6 to 24 months. Pinworm infection was observed in 20.3% of participants, while malaria showed a low overall prevalence of 2.9%, with all cases confined to the upper valley and attributed to P. falciparum. Conclusion: This study highlights a high burden of anemia among children aged 6 to 59 months on the Mauritanian side of the Senegal River basin. The co-occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections and malaria, though limited, further emphasizes the need for integrated control strategies, including nutritional support and preventive deworming.},
DOI = {10.35995/ajpme03010005}
}