Abstract
School children are among the high risk groups for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infections in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of STHs and S. mansoni among primary school children. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 15 to March 30, 2016, involving a total of 340 primary school children (age range 6 to 19 years). Socio-demographic and related data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Stool samples were collected from each study participant and examined using direct wet mount and modified Kato-Katz thick smear technique. Intensity of the STHs and S. mansoni were determined by estimating the eggs per gram (EPG) of stool. Factors associated with STH and S. mansoni infections were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression model. Prevalence of the STHs and S. mansoni were 38.2% and 12.94%, respectively. The main predictors of STH infections among the children studied were being in the age group of 16-19 years, untrimmed finger nail and household latrine unavailability. Moreover, male children, children with habit of swimming and bathing in the river had significantly higher odds of S. mansoni infection. Most of the children infected with the parasites had light infection. The burden of STHs and S. mansoni was high among the school children. Deworming intervention should be strengthened, along with awareness creation on proper disposal of human excreta and personal hygiene. Regular monitoring of the burden of the parasites and mass drug administration is required.
Highlights
School children are among the high risk groups for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infections in developing countries
To the best of our knowledge, there is no published data on the STH or S. mansoni infection, either in the adult population or school children in Ejaji Town or its surrounding districts, we admit that mass drug administration (MDA) targeting school children started in 2015 as part of national program and received only one round of MDA prior to this present study
A total of 340 school children from the 5 primary schools were included in this study
Summary
School children are among the high risk groups for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infections in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of STHs and S. mansoni among primary school children. The main predictors of STH infections among the children studied were being in the age group of 16-19 years, untrimmed finger nail and household latrine unavailability. Conclusions: The burden of STHs and S. mansoni was high among the school children. The impacts and magnitude of STHs and S. mansoni are high in pre-school and school-aged children in developing countries. Deleterious nutritional and cognitive functions associated with the STH infections in school-aged children have been documented [3,4]. Clinical symptoms and severity of the infections are usually related with the worm burden, physiological status and various underlying condition of the individual at risk like immunity and nutritional status [5,6]
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