A community-based cross-sectional study of soiltransmitted helminth infections and associated factors Among preschool children in butajira town, southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminths remain a major public health problem, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Preschool aged children are among people at risk of these infections. Epidemiological information on the prevalence and infection intensity of soiltransmitted helminths in area is a prerequisite for development and evaluation of sound control strategies. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and infection intensity of soiltransmitted helminths and associated factors among preschool children in Butajira Town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study was conducted from May 3 to June 23, 2014 in Butajira Town. A total of three hundred and seventy seven preschool children, selected by systematic sampling method had complete data for this study. Data were collected by house-tohouse visit. Questionnaire data on associated factors of soil-transmitted helminths were collected by using semi-structured questionnaire. Moreover, fresh stool samples were collected using clean, dry and wide mouthed labeled stool cups. It was processed by McMaster egg counting technique at Butajira General Hospital laboratory. Peripheral blood samples were also collected and hemoglobin was measured by HemoCue Hb 301. Data were entered and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences-16 version and p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 377 study participants, 88 (23.3%) were infected with one or more soiltransmitted helminths. Ascaris lumbricoides was the predominant parasite(14.9%) followed by Trichuris trichiura (6.4%). The overall infection intensity of soil-transmitted helminth expressed as geometric mean among the study participants for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were 229, 178, and 154 EPG, respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age group between 36-47 months (AOR, 2.501, 95%CI, 1.189 -5.26, p=0.016), untrimmed hands finger nail(AOR, 3.198, 95% CI, 1.849-5.53,p=0.000), and not washing hands before meal(AOR, 3.01, 95%CI, 1.671-5.433,p=0.000) were a significant predictor for soil-transmitted helminth infections in these children. Out of soil-transmitted helminth infected children, 4(4.5%) children had anemia where as only one child had anemia among non infected children. Conclusion and recommendation: Soil-transmitted helminth infections were prevalent with light to moderate infection intensity in the study area. Thus, this study highlights the need for preventive chemotherapy of at least once annually. The existing health education program should also be strengthed by focusing on personal hygiene of these children to have a lasting impact on transmission.