Abstract
Tungiasis is caused by the flea tunga penetrans and results in painful skin lesions, skin infections, and permanent disability. However, limited information is available that shows the magnitude of the problem and its risk factors that help for intervention in Ethiopia. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of tungiasis in children aged 5 to 14 in Mettu woreda in 2020. A community based cross sectional study was conducted among randomly selected kebeles of Mettu woreda, in Southwest Ethiopia. To select study participants, multistage sampling was used. The data were collected through physical examination of the children, interview of parents/guardians of the children, and observation of the home environment using checklists and questionnaires. The descriptive analysis was done for socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence of tungiasis, and housing conditions. A logistic regression analysis was performed, and variables in multivariable regression reported odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals once the variables were identified using a p-value of 0.05 as a risk factor of statistical significance. The prevalence of tungiasis among children 5–14 years of age in Mettu rural woreda was 52 percent (n = 821). As a risk factor, large family size (AOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.13, 4.40); school attendance (AOR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.18), floor inside the house (AOR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.76, 8.43); having sleeping bed (AOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.82); access to protected water sources (AOR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.39); access to improved toilet facilities(AOR: 0.63: 95% CI: 0.44, 0.89); access to electric services (AOR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.62); and lack of own farmland (AOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.50) were found. Therefore, planning and implementation of interventions focus on those risk factors that are particularly important. Water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, and livelihood improvement interventions are required to solve the problem in the setting.
Highlights
Tungiasis is an ectoparasitic infestation caused by tunga penetrans infestation
The ecto-parasite is present in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa, including Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, as well as South Africa; it is found in Zanzibar and Madagascar [10]
We considered the risk of tungiasis as an outcome variable used bi-variable analysis to examine the risk factors for tungiasis exposure among children aged 5–14 years
Summary
Tungiasis is an ectoparasitic infestation caused by tunga penetrans infestation. The disease is prevalent in the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and India, during the hot, dry season [1, 2]. The infestation is more common in children, those aged 5–10 years [6], living with reservoir domestic animals like cats, dogs, and pigs [7], poor personal hygiene, poor sanitation of the housing and residential environment, and a lack of foot wear are all risk factors for tungiasis infestation [8, 9]. According to a study conducted in Logos state, Nigeria, the prevalence of Tunga penetrans is 22.5 to 45.2% [11, 12]. A similar study from Tanzania, shows the prevalence of Tungiasis is 39% while in Uganda the prevalence was at 47% in children between 3–8 years of age [13]. A study conducted in a rural district of Rwanda shows that the prevalence of Tungiasis infection among children was 23%
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