Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of children included in the trial by randomization group (n = 765)
| Variable | Intervention group (n = 394) | Control group (n = 371) |
|---|---|---|
| Sex | ||
| Boys (n = 392) | 193 (49.0%) | 180 (48.5%) |
| Girls (n = 373) | 201 (51.0%) | 191 (49.0%) |
| Age distribution (years) | ||
| 3 – 5 (n = 93) | 40 (10.1%) | 53 (14.3%) |
| 6 – 8 (n = 517) | 278 (70.6%) | 239 (64.4%) |
| 9 – 13 (n = 155) | 76 (19.3%) | 79 (21.3%) |
| School | ||
| Mwamayombo | 52 (51.5) | 49 (48.5) |
| Nyashimo | 85 (50.6) | 83 (49.4) |
| Bulima | 68 (50.7) | 66 (49.3) |
| Milambi | 56 (53.8) | 48 (46.2) |
| Ihale | 75 (51.4) | 71 (48.6) |
| Ijitu | 58 (51.8) | 54 (48.2) |
| All schools | 394 (51.5) | 371(48.5) |
| S. mansoni infection | ||
| Prevalence (%) | 238 (60.4) | 220 (59.3) |
| Intensity (Epg)* | 49 (42–59) | 50 (42–59) |
| S. haematobium infection | ||
| Prevalence (%) | 90 (22.8) | 85 (22.9) |
| Intensity (Eggs/10 ml)* | 15 (11–20) | 17 (13–23) |
| S. mansoni/S. haematobium co-infection | ||
| Prevalence (%) | 65 (16.6) | 61 (16.4) |
| S. mansoni intensity (Epg)* | 31 (23–42) | 41 (29–58) |
| S. haematobium intensity (egg/10 ml)* | 19 (11–28) | 16 (10–26) |
| Malaria infection | ||
| Prevalence (%) | 123 (31.2) | 123 (33.2) |
| Parasite density (mps/μL)* | 530 (414–676) | 510 (403–644) |
| Hookworm infection | ||
| Prevalence (%) | 80 (20.3) | 68 (18.3) |
| Intensity (Epg)* | 54 (39–76) | 53 (39–73) |
| Prevalence of anaemia (%) | 142 (36.7) | 134 (35.5) |
| Prevalece of severe anaemia (%) | 5 (1.3) | 4 (1.1) |
| Mean haemoglobin level (g/L)** | 122 (121–123) | 123 (122–124) |
| Multiple infections (%) | ||
| Single parasite | 199 (50.5) | 186 (50.1) |
| Two parasites | 148 (37.6) | 136 (36.7) |
| Thee/four parasites | 47 (12.0) | 49 (13.2) |
*Infection intensity expressed as geometric mean parasite counts of positive samples only with 95% confidence interval shown in brackets.
**Mean haemoglobin concentrations with 95% confidence interval shown in brackets.