Prevalence of Tungiasis and its risk factors of among children of Mettu woreda, southwest Ethiopia, 2020

Abstract

Tungiasis is caused by the flea tunga penetrans and results in painful skin lesions, skin infections, and permanent disability. However, limited information is available that shows the magnitude of the problem and its risk factors that help for intervention in Ethiopia. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of tungiasis in children aged 5 to 14 in Mettu woreda in 2020. A community based cross sectional study was conducted among randomly selected kebeles of Mettu woreda, in Southwest Ethiopia. To select study participants, multistage sampling was used. The data were collected through physical examination of the children, interview of parents/guardians of the children, and observation of the home environment using checklists and questionnaires. The descriptive analysis was done for socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence of tungiasis, and housing conditions. A logistic regression analysis was performed, and variables in multivariable regression reported odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals once the variables were identified using a p-value of 0.05 as a risk factor of statistical significance. The prevalence of tungiasis among children 5–14 years of age in Mettu rural woreda was 52 percent (n = 821). As a risk factor, large family size (AOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.13, 4.40); school attendance (AOR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.18), floor inside the house (AOR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.76, 8.43); having sleeping bed (AOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.82); access to protected water sources (AOR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.39); access to improved toilet facilities(AOR: 0.63: 95% CI: 0.44, 0.89); access to electric services (AOR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.62); and lack of own farmland (AOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.50) were found. Therefore, planning and implementation of interventions focus on those risk factors that are particularly important. Water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, and livelihood improvement interventions are required to solve the problem in the setting.

Prevalence and Infection Intensity of Human and Animal Tungiasis in Napak District, Karamoja, Northeastern Uganda

“…Among the different age groups, the prevalence of human tungiasis followed a typical S-shaped curve trend, where children of 5–9 years and the elderly (≥60 years) had the highest prevalence, as reported before in other studies [ 24 , 27 , 29 , 34 , 35 , 65 ]. The S-shaped curve of age-specific prevalence has been attributed to variations in behavioural and hygienic practices in children and the sedentary way of life and neglect of elderly persons in resource-poor settings [ 6 , 24 , 65 ].…”

“…This keeps the population trapped in poverty. Poverty primes the existence of various predisposing factors to tungiasis [ 27 , 29 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 40 , 64 , 68 ]. Affected communities cannot afford solid floors, soap, water reservoirs and other basic infrastructure for good body hygiene and environmental sanitation.…”

“…Community-based studies in Brazil have reported human tungiasis prevalences of up to 54.8% [ 16 , 18 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. In sub-Saharan Africa, studies from Kenya, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Nigeria have reported a high prevalence of human tungiasis of up to 62.1% [ 6 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], 53% [ 32 , 33 ], 58.7% [ 34 , 35 ] and 42.5% [ 5 , 36 , 37 ], respectively. In Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, studies have reported prevalences of up to 23% [ 38 ], 42.5% [ 39 ] and 22.5% [ 40 ], respectively.…”

Reducing Prejudice against Children with Tungiasis: A Qualitative Study from Kenya on How a School Intervention May Raise Awareness and Change Attitudes towards Neglected Diseases

“…Research, however, indicates that poverty is the main risk factor for jiggers infection, as those at risk often lack access to clean water, soap, shoes, and solid floors in the homestead, and, when infected, they may lack the necessary means to pay for treatment [25,26]. However, in the pretest, none of the pupils mentioned the issue of poverty.…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Tungiasis among School-Aged Children in the City of Port Gentil, Ogooué-Maritime Province, Gabon in Central Africa

“…The city is bordered by beaches. The geographical coordinates of the city indicate a latitude of 0˚43' South to 0˚00' South and a longitude of 8˚46' East to 8˚30' East [9]. With a tropical climate, there is a hot and rainy period from October to May and a relatively cool and dry period June to September in Port-Gentil [10].…”