Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their association with academic achievement indicators: a cross-sectional study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Intestinal parasitic infections in children have been associated with learning difficulties, cognitive delays, nutritional deficiencies, impaired physical development, and lower academic performance. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their association with academic performance among school-age children in high-altitude Andean schools. A cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study was conducted in the district of Tamburco (Abancay, Apurímac, Peru). Stool samples from 265 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years (mean age: 8.9 ± 1.8 years; 51.3% female, 48.7% male) were selected via simple random sampling. Laboratory diagnostic procedures were performed at the Micaela Bastidas Micronetwork using direct microscopic examination with Lugol’s iodine and physiological saline, along with the Lumbreras rapid spontaneous sedimentation technique. Academic performance was evaluated using official 2018 achievement records across four core curricular domains: science and technology, physical education, mathematics, and communication. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 84.5% (95% CI = 80.1–88.9%). The most prevalent organism was Blastocystis spp. (53.2%), followed by Giardia duodenalis (36.6%), the non-pathogenic commensal protozoan Entamoeba coli (22.3%), and the helminth Ascaris lumbricoides (21.5%). The majority of students achieved the "expected performance" rating in science and technology (78.5%), physical education (88.3%), mathematics (72.8%), and communication (74.0%). Initial unadjusted bivariate analysis showed a nominal association between Entamoeba coli carriage and academic performance in communication (p < 0.05); however, this association did not sustain statistical significance after false discovery rate adjustment (q > 0.05). Although most schoolchildren achieved expected academic levels, the high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection represents an unmistakable bio-indicator of persistent environmental sanitation exposure and social vulnerability, rather than a direct driver of domain-specific academic failure.
Source: Scientific Reports
Institution: Universidad Nacional Micaela Bastidas de Apurimac
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7223154229