Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Associated Factors among Pre-School Children in Butajira Town, South-Central Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remain a major public health problem, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Though infections are prevalent among all age groups, the world health organization (WHO) considers Pre-school age children (PSAC), school-aged children, and pregnant women as segments of population at high risk of STH morbidities.</p><p>Objective</p><p>This study aimed at determining the prevalence and infection intensity of STH and associated factors among PSAC in Butajira Town, south-central Ethiopia.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2014 in Butajira Town. The PSAC were selected by systematic sampling technique and invited to participate in the present study. McMaster technique was employed for parasitological analysis of stool samples. Pearson’s Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were performed where appropriate to identify any association between STH infection and independent factors. Multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify independent predictors of STH among the PSAC. <i>P</i>-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 377 (with 96% compliance rate) PSAC were able to provide complete data (socio-demographic information and stool sample). The study showed that 23.3% (88/377) PSAC were infected with one or more species of STH. <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> was the most prevalent STH (14.9%) followed by <i>Trichuris trichiura</i> (6.4%). The overall infection intensity, expressed as geometric mean for <i>A</i>. <i>lumbricoides</i>, <i>T</i>. <i>trichiura</i>, and hookworms were 229, 178, and 154 eggs per gram of stool, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression model estimated that being in the age group of 36–47 months (AOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2–5.3, <i>P</i> = 0.016), untrimmed finger nail (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8–5.5, <i>P</i> < 0.001), and not washing hands before a meal (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.7–5.4, <i>P</i> < 0.001) were independent predictors of STH infections among the children.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The present study showed that STH was a public health problem among PSAC in the study area necessitating annual deworming to control morbidities associated with STH. Besides, the existing health education program should also be strengthened to prevent re-infection.</p></div

Additional file 1: of Intestinal parasitic infections among children under five years of age presenting with diarrhoeal diseases to two public health facilities in Hawassa, South Ethiopia

Multilingual abstracts in the six official working languages of the United Nations. (PDF 360 kb

Flow chart of sampling, participation, and compliance of the Preschool aged children in Butajira Town, South-central Ethiopia.

<p>Flow chart of sampling, participation, and compliance of the Preschool aged children in Butajira Town, South-central Ethiopia.</p

Change in clinical indices of onchocerciasis in Anfilo District Kelem Wollega Zone February—April 2012.

<p>Change in clinical indices of onchocerciasis in Anfilo District Kelem Wollega Zone February—April 2012.</p

Socio-demographic factors and treatment outcome among TB patients treated in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.

<p>Socio-demographic factors and treatment outcome among TB patients treated in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.</p

Trend of treatment outcome of all forms registered TB cases (n = 1537) in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.

<p>Trend of treatment outcome of all forms registered TB cases (n = 1537) in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.</p

Trend of all types of registered TB cases (n = 1537) in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.

<p>PTB+, Smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis; PTB-, smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis; EPTB, Extra pulmonary tuberculosis; Sep, September; Aug, August.</p

Change in Prevalence, AMI, and CMFL after the Implementation of 6 CDTI, Anfilo district, Kelem Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia, February—April, 2010.

<p>Change in Prevalence, AMI, and CMFL after the Implementation of 6 CDTI, Anfilo district, Kelem Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia, February—April, 2010.</p

Logistic regression analysis of predictor variables of treatment outcome among TB patients in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.

<p>Logistic regression analysis of predictor variables of treatment outcome among TB patients in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.</p

Socio-demographic characteristics of the registered TB cases (n = 1537) in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.

<p>Socio-demographic characteristics of the registered TB cases (n = 1537) in Dilla University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2008–2013.</p