Intestinal Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among School-Aged Children of Bamendjou Community, West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Background. Infection with intestinal nematodes is of major public health concern worldwide, and school-age children and pregnant women are the principal victims. The present study was undertaken to provide baseline information on the status of gastrointestinal nematodes among school-age children in Bamendjou. Material and Methods. Four hundred and ninety-three (493) stool samples were collected from school children in six (6) different schools (two nursery, two primary, and two secondary schools). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of stool samples were done using the simple flotation and McMaster count techniques, respectively. Results. Among the 493 participants, 57 (11.6%) stool samples were positive for at least one nematode species. Four nematodes are as follows: Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., hookworms, and Strongyloides sp. with respective prevalence and intensities of infection of 6.1% and 2260 ± 6377.98 , 3.4% and 223.53 ± 264.054 , 3.0% and 416.67 ± 427.061 , and 0.2% and 200 ± 00 , respectively. The data on the prevalence of nematodes with respect to sex showed that females (13.1%) were more infected than males (12.2%) ( P > 0.05 ). Furthermore, with respect to age, older children were more infected than younger ones. Cases of double parasitism were encountered with a prevalence of 1.2%. According to the fecal concentration of eggs, 61.90% of the infections were light. Risk factors such as drinking water from streams and not wearing shoes all the time were significant with infections. Conclusion. The relatively low overall prevalence (11.6%) obtained in this study shows that the national deworming campaign is proving effective, though a more holistic approach is required to prevent infections from bouncing back after such campaigns.

Cross-Sectional Study on Assessment of Frequency of Intestinal Helminth Infections and Its Related Risk Factors among School Children from Adola Town, Ethiopia

“…The prevalence rate of double parasitism was 2.72 percent, which is nearly similar to the prevalence rates reported by Ragunathan et al [ 35 ], Ruth et al [ 36 ], and Hailu and Ayele [ 37 ], which were 1.8 percent, 1.2 percent, and 0.9 percent, respectively. In contrast, our prevalence rate did not coincide with those of certain previous Ethiopian research which reported a greater prevalence rate [ 25 , 31 ].…”

Influent Factor toward Based Helminth Infections among of Thai-Cambodian Border in Phusing District, Sisaket Province, Thailand

“…Njitchouang et al, (2021) found that campaigns or education alone cannot control these infectious if the environment is not properly managed, leading to continual helminth infections and outbreaks (Anegagrie et al, 2021). Moreover, the study of Ruth et al, (2021) was in accordance with Getaneh, (2021), who found that never wearing shoes was a factor that promoted infection when contacting the soil (Anegagrie et al, 2021 andRuth et al, 2021).…”

“…In addition, shoe-wearing was reported to be at a low level (Silvia et al, 2021) noted that not wearing shoes when performing farming tasks or going outside can lead to infection (Rahmi et al, 2021 andSuntaravitun andDokmaikaw, 2018). Although these were in contrast with a study by Ruth et al, (2021) who found that the rate of infection with soil-borne parasites was higher in females than males (Ruth et al, 2021 andTegen andDamtie, 2021) found the males and females had no difference in infection rates (Tegen and Damtie, 2021), researcher resists the previous logic.…”

Personal Hygiene as a Risk Factors of Helminthiasis Among Primary School Students in Asia and Africa: A Literature Review

“…The use of footwear, a hygiene behavioral component is connected with the frequency of helminth infection in the study done in Bamendjou Community, Upper Plateaux Division, Western Cameroon (p = 0.04) (40). Similar research in Tuah Negeri, one of the subdistricts from Musi Rawas Regency including the province of South Sumatra, Indonesia mentions the incidence of helminth infection was found in primary school children who use less footwear (p = 0,000) (30).…”