Association Between Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Malnutrition Among Children and Adults in Manipur
Keywords:
Intestinal parasitic infections; Malnutrition; Children; Adults; Anemia; Helminths; Protozoa; Manipur; Nutritional status; Public healthAbstract
Intestinal parasitic infections and malnutrition remain intertwined public health challenges in many low- and middle-income regions, particularly in tropical settings where environmental and socio-economic conditions favor disease transmission. Northeastern India, including the state of Manipur, continues to experience a substantial burden of both parasitic diseases and nutritional deficiencies, despite ongoing national control initiatives. The present study investigates the association between intestinal parasitic infections and malnutrition among children and adults residing in selected districts of Manipur.
A community-based cross-sectional design was adopted, incorporating parasitological examination of stool samples, anthropometric assessments, hemoglobin estimation, and structured socio-demographic surveys. Standard laboratory techniques, including direct wet mount and formalin–ether concentration methods, were employed to identify intestinal parasites. Nutritional status was evaluated using Body Mass Index (BMI) for adults, weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height Z-scores, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) for children, following World Health Organization guidelines.
The study reveals a high overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections, with helminths such as Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, and Trichuris trichiura predominating, alongside protozoan infections including Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. Malnutrition was significantly more common among infected individuals compared to non-infected participants. Children exhibited particularly high vulnerability, with infected children demonstrating lower growth indices and higher rates of moderate to severe malnutrition. Adults with parasitic infections showed reduced BMI and increased prevalence of anemia.
Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong association between parasitic infection and adverse nutritional outcomes. Environmental and behavioral factors such as unsafe drinking water, open defecation, inadequate hand hygiene, and low socio-economic status were identified as major contributors to infection risk. The findings underscore the cyclical relationship between parasitism and malnutrition, wherein infection exacerbates nutritional deficiencies while malnutrition increases susceptibility to recurrent infections.
The study highlights the urgent need for integrated intervention strategies combining periodic deworming, nutritional supplementation, improved water and sanitation infrastructure, and community health education. Addressing intestinal parasitism in isolation is unlikely to yield sustained improvements unless accompanied by broader nutrition-sensitive and hygiene-focused public health measures. The results provide valuable baseline evidence for strengthening regional control programs and tailoring interventions to the specific socio-environmental context of Manipur.
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