Prevalence, Infection Intensity, and Risk Factors for Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections among School Children in Northwestern Tanzania
Nyanda C. Justine,
Jeffer Bhuko,
Sarah L. Rubagumya,
Namanya S. Basinda,
Deodatus M. Ruganuza,
Maria M. Zinga,
Matthieu Briet,
Vyacheslav R. Misko,
Filip Legein,
Hussein Mohamed,
Vivian Mushi,
Donath S. Tarimo,
Humphrey D. Mazigo,
Wim De Malsche
Affiliations
Nyanda C. Justine
Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Jeffer Bhuko
Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Sarah L. Rubagumya
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, St. Joseph College of Health and Allied Sciences, St. Joseph University in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 11007, Tanzania
Namanya S. Basinda
Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Deodatus M. Ruganuza
Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Maria M. Zinga
Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Matthieu Briet
µFlow Group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Vyacheslav R. Misko
µFlow Group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Filip Legein
µFlow Group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Hussein Mohamed
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania
Vivian Mushi
Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania
Donath S. Tarimo
Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania
Humphrey D. Mazigo
Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Wim De Malsche
µFlow Group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are among the neglected tropical diseases and infect more than 24% of the world population. The World Health Organization recommends regular monitoring of STH’s prevalence and intensity following mass drug administrations to evaluate their effectiveness and inform future control strategies. This study evaluated the prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of STH infections among school children aged 6 to 14 years old in northwestern Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 728 school children in the Kagera region in 2021. Participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the risk factors. Stool samples were examined using the Kato–Katz technique. The data were analysed using STATA. The overall prevalence of STH was 56.2% (95% CI: 52.5–59.8, 409/728). About 5.7% and 1.1% of the infected children had moderate-intensity infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, respectively. Risk factors included the mother’s occupation as a farmer (aOR: 1.2, p = 0.002) and not washing hands with water and soap (aOR: 1.4, p = 0.035). Washing one’s hands after using the toilet (aOR: 0.6; p = 0.024) is a preventive measure against STH infections. STH was prevalent in the study area. The mother’s occupation (farmer) and the lack of handwashing with water and soap influenced STH transmission. Conversely, washing hands after visiting the toilet and after playing with soil reduced the risk of STH infection.
