Behavioral factors affecting soil-transmitted helminthiasis among pregnant women attending antenatal care follow-up in Dembia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Globally, 2 billion people infected with soil-transmitted helminthiasis, nearly 250 million women live in helminthiasis endemic area. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region by soil-transmitted helminths. The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and its determinants among pregnant mothers was not well known in this study area. Therefore, the current study was aimed to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted infestation and its determinants in the West Dembia district. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study design was used from October to November 2020 in the West Dembia district. A systematic random sampling technique was used to take part 416 pregnant women. Data were collected using a pretested standardized questionnaire and stool sample was collected from each participant. Data were entered into Epi-info version 7 and exported to Stata version 14 for analysis. A crude Odds Ratio (COR) and an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were computed. The goodness of fit for the model was checked using Hosmer and Lemeshow test. Results Of all, 416 pregnant women were examined and 115 (27.6%) of women were positive at least to one of the common soil-transmitted helminthiases. Out of the total cases, Ascaris, Hookworm, and Schistosoma species account for 45(39%), 44(38%), and 24(21%), respectively. Rural dwellers AOR: 1.9, (95% CI: 1.04, 3.67), never using latrine AOR: 3.6, (95% CI: 1.35, 9.74), not using soap for handwashing AOR: 2.7: (95% CI: 1.31, 5.36), eating raw vegetables AOR: 2.4, (95% CI: 1.44, 3.94), the habit of eating soil AOR: 3.4, (95% CI: 1.22, 9.43) were statistically significantly associated with soil-transmitted helminthiasis infestation. Conclusion The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis infestation among pregnant women is high. Rural dwellers, not using a latrine, not using soap for handwashing, eating raw vegetables, and habit of eating soil were predictors to the infestation of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among pregnant women. Therefore, besides strengthening chemotherapy prevention, Antenatal care health promotion activities need to focus on behavioral change.

Soil-transmitted helminths and associated factors among pregnant women in Doreni district, Oromia region, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…These findings are also in line with studies performed in Dembia, northwestern Ethiopia (27.6%) [ 5 ]; Shewarobit town, Amhara region (27.7%) [ 17 ]; Hosanna town (29.5%) [ 5 ]; Felege Hiwot (31.5%) [ 9 ]; and Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Ethiopia (29%) [ 18 ]. This may be due to the similarity of the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents.…”

“…A quarter of the world’s population is contaminated with helminths that are spread through the soil. The world’s endemic areas for soil-transmitted helminthiasis are home to 250 million women and girls [ 5 ]. Due to the accompanying poverty, severe morbidity, and DALYs lost, STH has been included in the WHO's list of 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) [ 6 ].…”

Soil-transmitted helminths: A critical review of the impact of co-infections and implications for control and elimination

“…For example, among schoolchildren, the following meta-analytic estimates have been reported: poor handwashing (OR 1.55, 95% CI 0.61 to 3.92, p < 0.001), open defecation (OR 5.20, 95% CI 1.35 to 20.16, p < 0.001), untrimmed fingernails (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.57 to 6.55, p = 0.001), and not wearing footwear (OR 29.5, 95% CI 6.59 to 132.55, p < 0.001) [7,8]. Other adverse risk factors discussed in the literature include nail biting, soil eating, eating raw unwashed vegetables, swimming in water bodies, and close contact with animals [9][10][11][12][13].…”