Prevalence and risks of soil transmitted helminths among Ethiopian school children: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of soil transmitted helminths (STHs) among Endemata primary school in North West Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 195 school children was conducted from May to July 2021 at Endemata primary school. The study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling technique. Stool samples were processed via direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Data was entered by Epi-Dara version 3.1 and data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0. Variables were considered to be statistically significant if P<0.05 at 95% confidence level. Results: The overall prevalence of STHs was 10.8% (95% CI 7.1-16.0). The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura were 5.6% (95% CI 3.1-9.9), 3.1% (95% CI 1.3- 6.7) and 2.1% (95% CI 0.6-5.3), respectively. Grade 1-4 students were more likely to get infected with STHs as compared to grade 5-8 students (adjusted OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.3-16.6). Students who did not have latrines at their home were at higher risk to develop STHs infection comparing with those who had latrine at their home (adjusted OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.7-15.2). Similarly, the school children who did not wear shoes were more likely to be infected by STH parasite than those who did it (adjusted OR 6.3, 95% CI 1.9-20.7). The odds of being infected by STH parasites in children who did not trim their fingernails were 4.9 as compared to those who did it (adjusted OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.5-15.7). Conclusions: The prevalence of STHs among Endemata primary school children was low. Student grade level, latrine availability, shoes wear and nail status were significantly associated with STHs infection. Therefore, we recommend policy makers and stakeholders to follow the integration of deworming with water, hygiene and sanitation as well as the consistent health education of school children to control and prevent STH infections.