Prevalence, Intensity of Infection and Associated Risk Factors for Schistosoma mansoni and Soil Transmitted Helminthes among Two Primary School Children at nearby Rivers in Jimma Town, South West Ethiopia - Abstract
Background: Intestinal Schistosomiasis and Soil transmitted helminthes infections are among the major public health problems especially in Sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia. However, little is known about the distribution of these infections in area where there is risk factors for infection, especially schools at nearby rivers. Therefore objective of this study is to determine the prevalence, infection intensity and associated risk factors among two primary school children at nearby rivers of Jimma town.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among two primary school children aged from 6 to 19 years in Jimma town from March to April/15 2016. For diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) and soil transmitted helminthes (STHs), a single stool sample was obtained from each child and processed using single Kato Katz and examined using light microscope. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information of the school children participated in the study and variables used for risk factors assessments. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and variables with P-value < 0.05 were considered as significantly associated with S. mansoni and STHs infections.
Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal helminthes infection with S. mansoni and STHs was 50.64 %( 118/233). The prevalence of S. mansoni among school children of the two primary schools was 26.6 %( 62/233) with the prevalence of 29.2% in males and 23.3% in females. The prevalence of T. trichuira, A. lumbricoides and hookworms among the school children in Jimma town was 22.3%, 20.2% and 3.4% respectively. Majority of the infection intensity for both S. mansoni and STHs were classified as low.
Water contact habits has significantly associated with S. mansoni infection where as finger trimming status, frequency of handing washing habit before meal and after toilet were significantly associated with, A. lumbricoides and T. trichuira infections (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of intestinal helminthes infection with S. mansoni and STHs were 50.64 %; with the prevalence of S. mansoni, T. trichuira, A. lumbricoides and hookworms were 26.6%, 22.3%, 20.2% and 3.4% among the school children in the two schools. Majority of the infection intensity for both S. mansoni and STHs were classified as low. The school children were at moderate risk of infection with S. mansoni and STHs based on WHO 2012 prevalence classification in which once a year MDA is required for STHs and biannual MDA for S. mansoni. Health information regarding the transmission and prevention of S. mansoni and STHs should be given for school age children in the area.