Current Prevalence, Intensity, and Associated Factors of Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Schistosoma mansoni Infections Among School Age Children After Seven Years of Preventive Chemotherapy Implementation in Mizan Aman Town, Southwest Ethi

Abstract

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis and Schistosomiasis are major public health problems mainly among school-age children. In Ethiopia, both diseases are widely distributed throughout the country. However, the current prevalence and intensity status after preventive chemotherapy intervention of these both diseases have not been checked in the current study area. Objective: The main aim of this study was to determine the current prevalence, intensity, and associated factors of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni infections among school age children after seven years of preventive chemotherapy implementation in Mizan Aman town, southwest Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 615 school-age children from January to February 2022 in Mizan-Aman Town. Study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Sociodemographic and associated factors of soil transmitted helminths and S. mansoni infections were collected from each student through face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. The stool samples were collected and processed by double-slide Kato-Katz technique. Data were entered twice into Epidata version 4.6.06 before being exported to SPSS version 26 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics were presented in texts, tables, and figures. In addition, a bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify associated factors. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths infection was 50.7% with 2.4% moderate and heavy intensty, and Schistosoma mansoni infection was 25.4% with 3.3% heavy intensity infection. School age children in public schools, drinking river water, irregular handwashing before meals, not washing fruits, and habits of soil contact were associated factors for soil-transmitted helminths infection, whereas river swimming habits, bathing in the river, gender, and public schools were predictors of Schistosoma mansoni infection. Conclusion and Recommendation: Despite the preventive chemotherapy that has been implemented in the area, the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni infections in the study area remained high. Hence, the preventive chemotherapy implementation could be revised and integrated with other control strategies for elimination.