Abstract
BackgroundWorld Health Organization estimated that 779 million people are at risk of getting schistosomiasis (SCH) and 240 million people were infected worldwide. SCH due to Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) is a wide public health problem in Ethiopia. The aim of the survey was to quantify national and district disaggregated treatment coverage status for SCH and compare validated coverage with the one reported.MethodsCommunity based cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2019 among households with school age children (SAC) 5–14 years in seven purposively selected districts of the country. Segments to be surveyed were randomly selected and households to be interviewed from each segment were determined using systematic sampling technique. A total of 3378 households visited and 5679 SAC (5–14 years) were interviewed.ResultsOverall reported treatment coverage of Praziquantel (PZQ) against SCH was 4286 (75.5%). Males were 27% more likely to swallow the drug (AOR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.47) than females. SAC with age 10–14 years were 45% more likely to swallow the drug compared with their counter parts (5–9 years), (AOR =1.45; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.69). There is statistically significant association between PZQ swallowing status with school enrollment. (AOR = 20.90, 95% CI: 17.41, 25.08). Swallowing status of PZQ against SCH significantly higher for SAC treated in districts applied integrated treatment approach (87.5%) compared with SAC treated in vertical treatment approach (72.5%); P-value < 0.001. SACs were asked for reasons for not taking the drug and the main reported reason for not swallowing PZQ in the present study was none attending of the school.ConclusionsOver all treatment coverage of PZQ against SCH in the present study was 75.5%. Although it is in accordance with WHO recommendation for Ethiopia, national programmatic improvements are necessary to achieve higher coverage in the future. To increase treatment coverage for PZQ against SCH in Ethiopia, school based training should target all schools. Moreover, mobilization, sensitization and implementation of the community wide treatment need to be improved.
Highlights
World Health Organization estimated that 779 million people are at risk of getting schistosomiasis (SCH) and 240 million people were infected worldwide
SCH is the second most important parasitic infection: killing an estimated 280,000 people per year in African region [5] and in many parts of Ethiopia, SCH due to Schistosoma mansoni (S.mansoni) and schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) is a wide public health problem and usually occurs in agricultural communities living along small streams, irrigation schemes and lakes in altitudes below 2000 m above sea level [6, 7]
National Master Plan for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) reported that 37.3 million people are living in SCH prone areas, comprising 3.4 million pre-school age children (PSAC), 12.3 million school age children (SAC), and 21.6 million adults [8]
Summary
World Health Organization estimated that 779 million people are at risk of getting schistosomiasis (SCH) and 240 million people were infected worldwide. Schistosomiasis (SCH) is a chronic water- related parasitic disease caused by blood flukes of the genus schistsoma. It is the most important helminthes infection in tropical developing countries in terms of its public health and socioeconomic importance [1]; Ethiopia is not exceptional. SCH is the second most important parasitic infection: killing an estimated 280,000 people per year in African region [5] and in many parts of Ethiopia, SCH due to Schistosoma mansoni (S.mansoni) and schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) is a wide public health problem and usually occurs in agricultural communities living along small streams, irrigation schemes and lakes in altitudes below 2000 m above sea level [6, 7]. Other study in Northwest Ethiopia revealed that the prevalence of S. mansonia infection among PSAC was 11.2% [9]
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