Abstract
Pre-school aged children (PSAC) are highly affected by soil-transmitted helminths (STH), particularly in areas where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are inadequate. Context-specific evidence on determinants of STH infections in PSAC has not been well established in the study area. This study, therefore, aimed to fill these gaps in Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia. A community-based unmatched case-control study, nested in a cross-sectional survey, was conducted in January 2019. Cases and controls were identified based on any STH infection status using the Kato-Katz technique in stool sample examination. Data on social, demographic, economic, behavioral, and WASH related variables were collected from primary caregivers of children using pre-tested questionnaire. Determinants of STH infections were identified using multivariable logistic regression model using SPSS version 25. A total of 1206 PSAC (402 cases and 804 controls) participated in this study. Our study showed that the odds of STH infection were lowest among PSAC living in urban areas (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39-0.79), among those from households with safe water source (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47-0.0.93), and in those PSAC from households with shorter distance from water source (<30 minutes) (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.39-0.67). On the other hand, the odds of STH infection were highest among PSAC from households that had no functional hand washing facility (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04-1.77), in those PSAC from households that had unclean latrine (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.19-2.78), and among those PSAC under caregivers who had lower score (≤5) on knowledge related to STH transmission (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.13-3.01). Given efforts required eliminating STH by 2030; the existing preventive chemotherapy intervention should be substantially strengthened with WASH and behavioral interventions. Thus, an urgent call for action is required to integrate context-specific interventions, particularly in rural areas.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, soil-transmitted helminths (STH), including Ascaris lumbricoides, trichuris trichiura, and hookworms, affect more than 2 billion people worldwide [1]
Our study showed that the odds of STH infection were lowest among pre-school aged children (PSAC) living in urban areas (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39–0.79), among those from households with safe water source (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47–0.0.93), and in those PSAC from households with shorter distance from water source (
The odds of STH infection were highest among PSAC from households that had no functional hand washing facility (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04–1.77), in those PSAC from households that had unclean latrine (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.19–2.78), and among those PSAC under caregivers
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, soil-transmitted helminths (STH), including Ascaris lumbricoides, trichuris trichiura, and hookworms, affect more than 2 billion people worldwide [1]. Preventive chemotherapy, deworming, using annual or biannual single-dose albendazole (400 mg) or mebendazole (500 mg) is recommended by the WHO as a public health intervention against STH [11]. It has been provided for PSAC as one of the high risk group for many years in endemic countries including Ethiopia in areas where the baseline prevalence of any STH infection is 20% or higher among children in order to control and eliminate STH [1, 7, 11]. Pre-school aged children (PSAC) are highly affected by soil-transmitted helminths (STH), in areas where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are inadequate. This study, aimed to fill these gaps in Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia
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