The Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Associated Risk Factors among School Children at Sekela Primary School, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are a major public health problem in tropical and developing countries in relation to poverty, inadequate hygiene, and sanitation. This study was aimed at assessing the status of STH and associated risk factors among school children in the case of Sekela primary school. Cross-sectional descriptive studies were conducted in May 2019 and from 384 children, both males and females of equal proportion were used. A stool sample was collected randomly and examined in the laboratory under a microscope. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The difference was considered statistically significant at p value = 0.05. The overall STH infections observed in the study area were about 25.78% and were moderate transmission. The predominant helminth was A. lumbricoides (9.86%) followed by hookworm 6.25%, T. trichiura 5%, H. nana 3.10%, and H. diminuta 1.56%. Infections were generally more in males than females, in which 15.36% males and 10.41% females. In the case of age group, age groups between 7-8 years were more infected (13.28%). Infection rate decreases with increasing ages. Multivariate logistic regression analysis result indicated that wearing shoes, hand washing practice, family member, and residence were found to be associated risk factors for STH infections. Being urban dwellers and having family members with less than 2 children were found to be preventive. Lack of latrine, playing barefoot, untrimmed fingernail, eating raw vegetables, and absence of hand washing were major risk factors. In conclusion, the study showed that there was moderate transmission of infection among the study participants. Community-based health education using media, morbidity control through deworming, and improving sanitation should be strengthened as a measurement to control the transmission rate.

Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthes and Associated Risk Factors Among People of Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Among associated risk factors, hand washing habit before the meal was 3.16 (95% CI: 2.05-4.27) folds higher among people that didn’t have regular hand washing habit (3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 18, 21-24, 26, 28, 33-35, 37, 39, 41). This finding was in line with the previous study conducted in Nigeria, 54 in Indonesia, 23 in Sekela Primary School, Western Ethiopia, 52 and in Bazou (West Cameroon) lack of hand washing habit before the meal was also reported as a risk factor for STH infection. 55 This might be due to the reason that proper hand washing practices break the chain of transmission for soil-transmitted helminthic parasitic infection.…”

“…Besides, people who live in a rural setting were having an AOR of 1.22 (95% CI: 0.00, 2.44) (11, 20, 21, 28, 41). The result was similar to the result in Sekela Primary School, Western Ethiopia 52 and with the report in Brazil. 53 This could be due to the reason that rural people have less access to water, lack of environmental sanitation, and poor personal hygiene.…”

“…The pooled results showed that uneducated families were 1.76 times (95% CI: 0.17-3.35) more likely to have soil-transmitted helminth parasitic infections than those who were educated. The finding is almost similar to the result in Sekela Primary School, Western Ethiopia, 52 the finding in Kenya, 58 and the result in East Wollega. 59 This might be due to educated family aware their children to practice personal hygiene, not to play with soil, hand washing practice before a meal and after defecation.…”

“…But not significantly associated with STH. The result is following the result in Sekela Primary School, Western Ethiopia, 52 and the results in Birbir town. 56 This could be due to washing fruits and vegetables before consumption reduces the risk of acquiring parasitic infection.…”

Current Finding of Helminth Morphology Cause Infectious Disease

“…As in other species of tapeworm, the embryo in the eggs of this species also has 6 hooks (hexakan embryos). [14]…”