Background Intestinal parasites such as Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica can cause severe diarrhea, especially among children in developing countries. This study aims to determine the frequency of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica in children with diarrhea and identify risk factors for infection. Methodology We conducted a cross-sectional study in children aged 0-168 months hospitalized with diarrhea in three regions of Mozambique, from June 2014 to January 2018. Following consent, caretakers were interviewed and a single stool specimen was collected from each child to diagnose Cryptosporidium spp., G. lamblia and E. histolytica using commercial immuneenzymatic assay (TechLab, Inc, Blacksburg, VA, USA). Anthropometric data were collected from the clinical reports. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify risk factors for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. lamblia infection. Results Twenty-one percent of all specimens (212/1008) presented at least one parasitic infection. Cryptosporidium spp. infection was the most common 12.0% (118/985), followed by G. lamblia 9.7% (95/983) and E. histolytica 2.0% (20/1004). Risk factors for infection by Cryptosporidium spp. were: provenience (children from Nampula province showed the highest risk, OR: 8.176; CI: 1.916-34.894; p-value < 0.01); animal contact (children with animal contact PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

Diarrhoea is associated with undernutrition and this association is related to increased morbidity and mortality in children under-five. In this analysis we aimed to assess the frequency and associated factors of undernutrition in children under-five with diarrhoea. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2015 to December 2019 through a surveillance system in five sentinel hospitals in Mozambique. Sociodemographic and clinical information was collected, including anthropometry. A total of 963 children were analysed. The overall undernutrition frequency was 54.1% (95% CI: 50.9–57.2), with 32.5% (95% CI: 29.6–35.5) stunting, 26.6% (95% CI: 23.9–29.6) wasting and 24.7% (95% CI: 22.1–27.5) underweight. Children from Nampula province had 4.7 (p = 0.016) higher odds for stunting compared with children from Maputo. Children whose caregiver was illiterate had higher odds of being underweight 5.24 (p < 0.001), and the wet season was associated with higher odds 1.70 (p = 0.012) of being wasted. Children born under 2500 g of weight had 2.8 (p = 0.001), 2.7 (p < 0.001) and 2.6 (p = 0.010) higher odds for being underweighted, wasted and stunted, respectively. The HIV positive status of the children was associated with higher odds of being underweight 2.6 (p = 0.006), wasted 2.24 (p = 0.025), and stunted 3.4 (p = 0.004). The province, caregiver education level, wet season, child’s birthweight and HIV status were factors associated with undernutrition in children with diarrhoea. These findings emphasise the need for additional caregiver’s education on the child’s nutrition and associated infectious diseases. More studies are needed to better understand the social context in which a child with diarrhoea and undernutrition is inserted.

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