Nutritional status and parasitic infestation among working children in a village in Egypt: a comparative study

Background: Work poses potential threats to the physical, emotional, economic, and academic health of teenagers. Like their adult coworkers, teenagers face exposure to a variety of health and safety hazards that can lead to injury and illness. Children’s increased vulnerability puts them at a high risk of work-related health problems. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare growth parameters of working children in contrast to nonworking students, and to compare the frequency of anemia and parasitic infestations among the two groups. Participants and methods: A comparative cross-sectional study among 75 working boys in small industrial workshops in Arab Gohaina village in Qaliuobia governorate and 75 students of the same residence was conducted. All children were interviewed and were subjected to physical examination. Their BMI and hemoglobin were measured, and stool samples were examined for parasites. Results: Only 11 and 15% of the workers working children eat vegetables and fruits on daily basis compared with 25 and 49% of students respectively (P
Source: The Journal Of The Egyptian Public Health Association - Category: Global & Universal Tags: Original articles Source Type: research