Abstract
The study is a continuation of a research carried out in Luweero district in Uganda1. It investigated whether PHAST was a suitable tool for reducing transmission of soil transmitted helminths. PHAST means Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation; a participatory approach that uses visual tools to stimulate the participation of people in promotion of improved hygiene and sanitation. To assess the effect of PHAST on intestinal helminth transmission in children under five years. Three phases namely; (1) Baseline survey (2) PHAST intervention (3) Follow up were conducted. During Phase 1, the subjects' stool samples were examined for presence of helminthic ova and questionnaires administered. In Phase 2, PHAST was conducted only in experimental villages. All subjects in the experimental and control villages were treated thrice with Albendazole. During Phase 3, all steps of Phase 1 were repeated. There was an overall reduction in the prevalence of children infected with helminths after PHAST intervention. Also, comparison of pre-intervention and post-intervention multivariate results indicates that the likelihood of children getting infected with helminths reduced in most of the experimented variables. Health stakeholders should utilize PHAST approach to sensitize communities on the importance of hygiene to curb soil-transmitted helminth infections.
Highlights
Intestinal helminth infections have been reported in many parts of Uganda including Luweero district[1,2,3,4]
This study was conducted to assess the effect of PHAST intervention on intestinal helminth infections in children less than 5 years
Effect of PHAST intervention on helminthic infections The overall prevalence rate of helminth infections reduced after the intervention in Phase 3
Summary
Intestinal helminth infections have been reported in many parts of Uganda including Luweero district[1,2,3,4]. This study was conducted to assess the effect of PHAST intervention on intestinal helminth infections in children less than 5 years. Among the PHAST tools that were developed, 4 were purposely selected as most appropriate for the current study to cover 5 of the essential steps to community planning namely; Sanitation ladder, Three-Pile Sorting, Faecal-Oral disease Transmission Routes and Barriers (FTRB), and Tippy Tap[6]. The study is a continuation of a research carried out in Luweero district in Uganda[1] It investigated whether PHAST was a suitable tool for reducing transmission of soil transmitted helminths. Conclusion: Health stakeholders should utilize PHAST approach to sensitize communities on the importance of hygiene to curb soil-transmitted helminth infections.
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