Abstract
In the current estimate, approximately two billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) worldwide and more than 550 million school-age children live in areas where these parasites are extensively transmitted. Studies have indicated the prevalence of intestinal parasites in rural settings in Cameroon. However, there are paucity of information on the prevalence and risk factor associated with STHs in school going children in Douala metropolis. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence and assess the risk factors associated with STH infections among school children in three government primary schools in Douala. A school-based cross-sectional study was carried out from April to June 2016 to estimate the prevalence, and associated factors with regards to STH transmission using multivariate regression analysis. School children with the age range between 5 and 15 years old were randomly selected from three government primary schools from different Subdivisions in the Wouri Division. Among the 320 school children that were enrolled, the overall prevalence of STH was 41.3 % (132/320). The most dominant STH specie in the present study was A. lumbricoides (28.7%), followed by N. americanus (8.1%) and T. trichuria (6.8%). Of the total number of school children that participated in the study, 118 (36.8 %) had monoinfections, 12 (3.6 %) double infections and 2 (0.6 %) triple infections. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that nails hygiene, family of less than 3 children and children less than 9 years old were predictors of STH infection. Attending EP Newbell and being in grade 2, increased the risk of STH by 4 times. The work indicated a high prevalence of STHs among school age children. Annual mass deworming campaign might not be enough to eliminate STHs in school age children in Douala. Health education and improved sanitation and personal hygiene might hold the key for a successful control and elimination of STHs infection in this setting.
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