Prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni infections among schoolchildren around Lake Tana, northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Schistosomiasis is one of the widely distributed neglected tropical diseases. It is a serious public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is highly prevalent and widely distributed in Ethiopia due to suitable environmental factors and human activities. The prevalence and infection intensity varied from locality to locality in the country. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni infection and associated risk factors among schoolchildren around Lake Tana. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 710 schoolchildren from February to April 2021 in eight selected primary schools around Lake Tana. A questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic information and potential risk factors of S. mansoni infection. After collecting socio-demographic information, students were requested to bring about 2grams of stool specimens for parasitological examination. The collected stool samples were processed using a single Kato-Katz and Ritchie’s concentration techniques. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23 and factors with a p-value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results The overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 34.9% (95% CI: 31.4–38.7) among schoolchildren in the study area. The eggs per gram (EPG) of stool ranged from 24 to 1659 with arithmetic and geometric mean values of 138.1 EPG and 85.1 EPG, respectively. The majority of S. mansoni infections (61.4%) were classified as low infection intensity. Among the different determinant factors being male (AOR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.233–2.457; P-value = 0.002), bathing habits (AOR = 1.494; 95%CI = 1.013–2.199; P-value = 0.043) and students attending at Qunzela primary school (AOR = 10.545; 95%CI = 3.264–34.067; P-value = 0.001), Alabo primary school (AOR = 3.386; 95%CI = 1.084–10.572; P-value = 0.036) were significantly associated with S. mansoni infection. Conclusion This study revealed that more than one-third of schoolchildren were infected by S. mansoni in the study area. The majority of the infections were classified as low infection intensity. Being male, bathing habits and schools in which students attended were independent explanatory factors for S. mansoni infection. Therefore, integrated control strategies are needed to improve the health conditions of schoolchildren in the study area.

Community-based prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis and associated risk factors in two endemic districts of Taiz governorate, Yemen

“…This results may be due to that; some community members refuse to receive drugs during mass administration therapy (or may be due to drug resistance or malabsorption). Our ndings in contrast to studies conducted in Ethiopia which found that the prevalence of S. mansoni was 35.7% and only 8.9% of the study participants had a heavy intensity of infection (38,39). The variations in community water contact activities could easily account for these results.…”

Distribution and seasonal abundance of Biomphalaria snails and their infection status with Schistosoma mansoni in and around Lake Tana, northwest Ethiopia

“…However, the infection status of Biomphalaria snails around Lake Tana has not been investigated. A recent evidence showed a high prevalence (35%) of S. mansoni infection in humans 7 in the study area despite the ongoing deworming program. In the present study it was hypothesized that there might be a high-level of Biomphalaria snails infected with S. mansoni around Lake Tana.…”

“…It is estimated that 85–95% of the global schistosomiasis are in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest prevalence among school-aged childre 3 , 4 In Ethiopia, the prevalence of schistosomiasis could reach as high as 90% in some localities, particularly for Schistosoma mansoni 5 . Although Ethiopia launched a school-based deworming program in 2015 to control schistosomiasis 6 , the prevalence of the disease is still high in several localities 7 – 10 .…”

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among Schoolchildren around Lake Tana, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The remaining stool sample from Kato–Katz's thick fecal smear was processed using Ritchie's concentration technique [ 29 ]. The detailed procedure of Ritchie's concentration used in this study was described elsewhere [ 30 ].…”