Soil transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni infections in elementary school children at Tach Armachiho district, north-west Ethiopia

Mulat Yimer [1a], Bayeh Abera [1b],Wondemagegn Mulu[1c]
Page no. 43-53

Background: In developing regions of the world, helminth infections particularly those caused by
soil transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomes constitute major public health challenges.
Current data indicates that an estimated 4.5 billion individuals are at risk of STHs infections and
the global estimate number of cases of A. lumbricoides is 807 million, T. trichiura 604 million,
Hookworm species 576 million and schistosomiasis 207 million. Therefore, the aim of this study
was to determine, STHs and S. mansoni infections in elementary school children at Tach
Armachiho district, north-west Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted from May15 to June 10, 2013 on STHs and S.
mansoni infections. For the study, a total of 422 school age children were participated at three
elementary schools. Proportionate allocation was used to determine the number of students
involved in each selected school. Moreover, using registration list, simple random sampling method
was employed to select students from each section. The stool sample was processed using: direct
and Kato-Katz methods.
Results: Of the 422 study participants involved in the study, 135 (31.9%) were males and 287 (68
%) were females. The overall prevalence of STHs and S. mansoni infections was 315 (74.6%) and
more than half 262 (62.1%) of school age children had single infections. Most of the double
infections account for S. mansoni + A. lumbricoides 24 (5.7%). However, no triple or quadruple
infections were identified. Most of light infections 170 (40.3%), moderate and heavy infections were
identified in S. mansoni and accounts for 90 (21.3%) and 32 (7.6%) respectively. Shoe wearing and
swimming habits, water source and latrine used by the family showed statistically significant
associations (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Prevalence of STHs and S. mansoni was high and the disease was still a major health
problem in the study areas. Therefore, there is a need for community mobilization towards
provision of safe and adequate water supply, latrine construction to reduce open field defecation,
and health education aimed at bringing behavioural change in the district.
Keywords: STHs, S. mansoni, school age children, Tach Armachiho district, Ethiopia