Risk of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among agrarian communities of Kogi State, Nigeria: Evaluated in the context of The Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee recommendation 2016

Abstract

33 Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) have remained a major threat to human especially children 34 in developing countries including Nigeria. Interventions have always been geared towards 35 school-aged children, neglecting preschool-aged children and occupational risk adults. The 36 Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee (STHAC) recently suggested 37 incorporating other at-risk groups. In the context of this recommendation, this study assessed 38 the associated risk of STH infection among agrarian communities of Kogi State, Nigeria. A 39 total of 310 individuals of all ages participated in the cross-sectional survey. Stool samples 40 were analyzed using standard Kato-Katz method. A total of 106 (34.2%) individuals were 41 infected with at least one STH. Hookworm was the most prevalent (18.1%); followed by 42 Ascaris lumbricoides (16.8%). Worm intensity was generally light. Prevalence of infection 43 was similar between four age groups considered (preschool, school, 'women of reproductive 44 age' and older at-risk group). Poor socio-economic status (SES) was a major risk for STH 45 infection. Using a 20-assets based criteria, 68 (23.1%) and 73 (24.7%) of 295 questionnaire 46 respondents were classified into first (poorest) and fifth (richest) wealth quintiles respectively.47 Risk of infection with STH was 60% significantly lower in the richest wealth quintile 48 compared to the poorest (Prevalence Ratio (PR) = 0.4843, 95% CI = 0.2704 -0.8678, p = 3 3 49 0.015). Open defecators were more likely to harbour STH than those who did not (PR = 50 1.7878, 95% CI = 1.2366 -2.5846, p = 0.00201). Pit latrine and water closet toilet each 51 approximately reduced STH infection by 50% (p < 0.05). Preventive chemotherapy for all age 52 groups, health education and provision of basic amenities especially toilets are needed in 53 order to achieve the goal toward the 2020 target of STH control. Author summary58 Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are major cause of morbidities globally, especially among 59 children in developing countries such as Nigeria. Present World Health Organization 60 recommended control strategy solely require preventive chemotherapy targeting preschool-61 aged children (PSAC) and school-aged children (SAC), and the recently included women of 62 reproductive age (WRA). The Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee (STHAC) 63 which is saddled with responsibility of evaluating STHs status and providing appropriate 64 recommendations proposed that preventive chemotherapy be extended to other at-risk groups.65 This study evaluates this and some other recommendations of STHAC 2016 using sections of 66 a state in Nigeria where soil-transmitted helminthiasis is endemic.67 Findings from this study supports recommendations for extension of preventive chemotherapy 68 to other at-risk groups apart from PSAC and SAC. It supports WASH (water, sanitation and 69 hygiene) as integral part of STH control. This finding emphasizes the need for health 70 education and change in attitude which could promote tene...

High Prevalence of Hookworm Species and Associated Factors among Soil‐Transmitted Helminth‐Infected Household Contacts in Burie Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community‐Based Cross‐Sectional Study

“…Infection with soil-transmitted helminths in the rural community of the study area is still a major health problem and needs great concern. In the current study, the overall prevalence of STHs was 36.5% (95% CI: 31.7%–41.5%), which is in line with studies in Nigeria (34.2%) [ 13 ] and Kenya (39.3%) [ 14 ]. However, our finding was higher than the prevalence reported from Brazil (12.6%) [ 15 ], Malaysia (3.1%) [ 7 ], Thailand (18%) [ 16 ], and Bibugn Woreda, northwest Ethiopia (20.9%) [ 17 ].…”

“…The prevalence of STHs was also higher in farmers (37.4%) than in government employees and students. This is supported by a previous study in Nigeria [ 13 ]. This might be because those farmers have more soil contact for agricultural activity, which might increase the risk of STHs infection.…”

Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth infections and associated risk factors among household heads living in the peri-urban areas of Jimma town, Oromia, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

“…The present study also found that household heads in the lowest wealth percentile were 2.7 times more likely to be infected with STHs as compared to household heads in the highest wealth percentile. A similar result was reported from Kenya, Nigeria, Benin, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where individuals with low income were more affected by STHs than their counterparts [34,36,50,54,55]. Here we also found that household heads who possessed unimproved toilet facilities were two times more likely to be infected with STHs as compared to household heads who possessed improved toilet facilities.…”

“…The current study's observed total prevalence of STH infections was 18.1%, which is comparable to previous studies conducted among adult populations in the coast of Kenya (20.7%) [34], Southern Thailand (15.7%) [41], Eastern Co ˆte d'Ivoire (19.5%) [42] and Northwest Ethiopia (20.9%) [43]. However, it was lower than the finding of the studies conducted in the rural community of the southwest Ethiopia (70.3%) [44], Kogi state, Nigeria (45.1%) [36], Cameron's Western region of (26.4%) [45], Ghana's middle-belt (45%) [46] and Guinea Bissau's Bijagos Islands (40%) [47]. Prevalence of STH infections ranging from 3.3 to 51.5% were also reported in the study conducted among the adult population in five communities in Nepal [48].…”

“…The result of this study illustrates the importance of addressing the community-based reservoir to reduce the reinfections of the treated children and other at-risk populations through expanding the target population, integrated with health and hygiene education and the provision of adequate sanitation facilities [31,32,34]. A study conducted among agrarian communities of Kogi State, Nigeria recommends the inclusion of all age groups in preventive chemotherapy along with health education and provision of basic sanitation facilities to eliminate STH and break their transmission by 2025 [36,37].…”