Soil-transmitted helminth infections among pre-school aged children in Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia: Prevalence, intensity and intervention status

Abstract

Background Soil-transmitted helminths (STH), i.e., Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms are among the most prevalent Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ethiopia. Although pre-school aged children pay a high morbidity toll associated with STH infections, evidence on prevalence, intensity and intervention status is lacking in Ethiopia. This study, therefore, aimed to address these gaps to inform decision made on STH. Methods We did a community-based cross-sectional study in five districts of Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia; in January 2019. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaire, and the Kato-Katz technique was used to diagnose parasites eggs in stool. Then, collected data were edited and entered into EpiData 4.4.2, and exported to SPSS software (IBM, version 25) for analysis. Results A total of 2462 PSAC participated in this study. Overall, the prevalence of STH was 23.5% (578/2462) (95% confidence interval (CI) = 21.8%–25.2%). As caris lumbricoides was the most prevalent (18.6%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (9.2%), and hookworms (3.1%). Of the total, 7.4% PSAC were infected with two STH species. Most of the positive cases with STH showed low infection intensities, while 15.1% ascariasis cases showed moderate infection intensities. The study found that 68.7% of PSAC were treated with albendazole. Also, household’s level data showed that 39.4% used water from hand-dug well; 52.5% need to travel ≥30 minutes to collect water; 77.5% did not treat water, and 48.9% had no hand washing facility. In addition, almost 93% care givers achieved less than the mean knowledge and practice score (≤5) on STH prevention. Conclusions This study showed that significant proportions of pre-school aged children are suffering from STH infections despite preventive chemotherapy exist at the study area. Also, gaps in the interventions against STH were highlighted. Thus, a call for action is demanding to eliminate STH among PSAC in Ethiopia by 2030.

Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among School Children in Dembecha Town, Ethiopia

“…The prevalence of STH infection was 21.5%. The result is similar to those of Butajira Town, south-central Ethiopia (23.3%), 26 Gamo Gofa, southern Ethiopia (23.5%) 14 and Cameroon (24.1%). 27 However, the prevalence of STH was greater than the result in Nigeria (8.3%).…”

“…This result was comparable with that of a study conducted in Lake Hawassa (7.7%) 15 and in Birbir (5.4%). 39 However, the finding was greater than those of the Gamo Gofa zone in southern Ethiopia (3.1%) 14 and Ambo in western Ethiopia (2.8%). 40 The result of this study was much lower than the studies in Arbaminch Zuria district (14.5%), 41 Yirgacheffee, South Ethiopia (16.7%) 42 and among schoolchildren in Mettu town, southwest Ethiopia (28.1%).…”

“… 12 A low prevalence of STH was reported in Debre Tabor (11.8%), where the prevalence of A. lumbricoides , hookworms, and T. trichiura was 7, 3.2, and 1.2%, respectively. 14 However, the prevalence of STH was moderate in Hawassa (52.4%) with A. lumbricoides (44.4%), which was the predominant parasite, followed by T. trichiura (11.1%) and hookworm (7.7%). 15 In another study conducted in Mizan Aman, the prevalence of STH was high (70.3%).…”

Geohelminth Infections and Nutritional Status of Mbororo Children 2 - 15 Years in the Bafmeng Health Area, North West Cameroon

“…Transmission is often by ingestion of ova found in contaminated soil or water for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura while hookworm infection (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) is by skin penetration, and they constitute the most common causes of geohelminth infection [3]. Globally, over 2 billion people have been affected by geohelminths [4] and a further 4 billion people are estimated to be at risk [5]. In 2017, the global burden of the disease was estimated at 1.9 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) [6].…”

Soluble Thiabendazolium Salts with Anthelminthic Properties

“…Common species that affect people are threadworms (Strongyloides stercoralis), hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), and roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides). These worms feed on iron and protein from the host tissues, causing infections with symptoms ranging from abdominal pain 2 to anemia 3 , and physical and cognitive growth impairments, affecting children worse than adults 4 . Some parasites also cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, or dysentery, reducing nutritional intake and starvation.…”