Prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth infections among individuals living in Bata district, Equatorial Guinea

Abstract

Background Soil transmitted Helminths (STH) infections remain a public health concern worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas where these diseases are highly endemic. Knowing the prevalence and risk factors of the disease is crucial for efficient STH control strategies in endemic areas. The scarcity of epidemiological data on STH for Equatorial Guinea has motivated the decision to perform the present study. Methods A cluster-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Bata district from November 2020 to January 2021. Stool samples were collected for the diagnostic of STH infections using Kato-Katz technique. Descriptive statistics was performed for determination of STH prevalence and intensity, while logistic regression models were used to assess the risk factors associated with STH infections. Results A total of 340 participants were included in the study with a mean age of 24 years (SD = 23.7) and 1.2 female-to-male sex-ratio. The overall prevalence of any STH was 60% (95%CI: 55–65). The most prevalent species were Ascaris lumbricoides (43%, 95%CI: 37–48) and Trichuris trichiura (40%, 95%CI: 35–46). Intensity of infection were mainly light to moderate. A trend of association was observed between age and any STH infection (overall p-value = 0.07), with a significant difference observed between children aged 5–14 years as compared to those aged 1–4 (aOR 2.12; 95%CI: 1.02–4.43, p-value = 0.04), while locality was significantly associated with STH infection (overall p-value<0.001) with a higher odds observed for peri-urban area as compared to urban area (aOR 4.57; 95%CI: 2.27–9.60, p-value<0.001). Conclusion Bata district is a high STH transmission area, where school-aged children and peri-urban areas are associated with a higher risk of any STH infection. This situation calls for a full implementation of the WHO recommendations for STH control; mass drug administration of anthelminthic twice a year to the whole population with great attention to school age children, and prioritizing peri-urban areas where safe water, improve sanitation, and hygiene education should be implemented to achieve a better control.

Epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminth infections and the differential effect of treatment on the distribution of helminth species in rural areas of Gabon

“…In our area where the prevalence of STH infections is moderate, this result could be surprising. However, our result is similar to what is reported by some authors in areas with moderate [ 28 ] or even high [ 29 , 30 ] STH prevalence. As suggested by Meñe et al [ 30 ], we hypothesize that the absence of heavy infection intensity in our community could be explained by frequent deworming of children by their parents, which is a common practice in the country, particularly when the child presents helminth-like symptoms and thus in cases of heavy infection intensity.…”

“…However, our result is similar to what is reported by some authors in areas with moderate [ 28 ] or even high [ 29 , 30 ] STH prevalence. As suggested by Meñe et al [ 30 ], we hypothesize that the absence of heavy infection intensity in our community could be explained by frequent deworming of children by their parents, which is a common practice in the country, particularly when the child presents helminth-like symptoms and thus in cases of heavy infection intensity. Such targeted treatment could therefore contribute to the reduction in the intensity of infection cases and probably disease-related morbidity in the community.…”