Prevalence, Infection Intensity, and Risk Factors for Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections among School Children in Northwestern Tanzania

Abstract

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 <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> and <i>Trichuris trichiura,</i> respectively. Risk factors included the mother's occupation as a farmer (aOR: 1.2, <i>p</i> = 0.002) and not washing hands with water and soap (aOR: 1.4, <i>p</i> = 0.035). Washing one's hands after using the toilet (aOR: 0.6; <i>p</i> = 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.