Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among Schoolchildren in Durbete Town, Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Identifying determinants of soil transmitted helminth infection is vital to design control strategy for the disease. This study assessed the prevalence of STH infections and associated factors among schoolchildren in Durbete town, northwestern Ethiopia. Data about the sociodemographic and socioeconomic status of the children were collected using a questionnaire and stool samples were diagnosed using thick Kato-Katz smear. STH infection was more common among school-age children in Durbete town. Hookworm was the most frequent helminth species detected. The prevalence of STH infection was more in children who did not practice wearing shoes and washing hands before eating and in those who were older in age. Deworming of school-age children in the study area would be important. In addition, provision of health education about helminths and the importance of wearing shoes and washing hands before eating would be important to reduce the burden of STH infection in the study area.

Intestinal parasitosis, undernutrition and socio-environmental factors in schoolchildren from Clorinda Formosa, Argentina

“…In this regard, the presence of these species is favored by warm and humid climate and abundant rainfall, as well as by deficient sanitary conditions such as inadequate excreta disposal, lack of drinking water and floods, all of which characterize and are common in Clorinda. In addition, the lack of access to information and a deficient nutritional status might increase the risk of infection by geohelminths (30,31) The presence of this helminths may also be related to the behavior of vulnerable populations whose hygienic and cultural practices, such as walking barefoot or not washing their hands, are relevant (32). Consequently, infection by geohelminth species in this study was not surprising after finding that more than 75% of children went around barefoot and played in the soil.…”

Epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni: a base-line survey among school children, Ejaji, Ethiopia

“…In Ethiopia, similar to other developing countries, these parasites are widespread particularly among school and preschool-aged children [7][8][9][10]. Several individual-level factors including illiteracy, poor personal hygienic practices and risky behavioral practices typical to children (like swimming in streams/rivers and open field defecation) coupled to household-level risk factors such as household lack of latrine and unsafe supply of water for drinking are commonly related with the parasitic infections in Ethiopia [11,12]. Fecal contamination of school compounds including the playgrounds, nearby water sources, classrooms and the toilet surroundings could also serve as possible source of STH infections in school children [13].…”

Integrated Sanitation and Hygiene Program to Curb the Case of Helminthiasis: An Experimental Study Among School-Age Children in a Coastal Town in the Philippines

“…Several studies suggest that the unhygienic practices such as not washing of hands, not bathing, untrimmed nails, eating food that fell on the ground, walking barefoot and not washing of hands after toilet use are risk factors of helminthiasis (Mascarini-Serra, 2011;Mengistu, Melaku, & Tesfu, 2014;Getnet, 2015;Mirisho, Neizer, & Sarfo, 2017;Schmidlin, Hurlimann, Silue et al, 2013;Suriptiastuti & Manan, 2016). Several studies have shown that health education about the cause and mode of infection of helminths, hygiene and sanitation practices and other health-related topics, are some of the strategies to combat this type of infection (Alelign, Degarege, & Erko, 2015;Alemu, Tegegne, Damte, & Melku, 2016;Getnet, 2015;Mengistu, Melaku, & Tesfu, 2014). For example, a study discovered that the lack in knowledge among indigenous people of Malaysia in terms of the mode of transmission and causes of helminthiasis is negatively associated to the number of infection (Nasr, Al-Mekhlafi, Ahmed, Roslan, & Bulgiba, 2013).…”