Abstract:
Soil-transmitted helminth parasitic infections constitute major public health challenges
among school children in developing tropical and sub-tropical countries. Therefore, the
objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of soil transmitted
helminth parasitic infections and their associations with anthropometric measurements at
Tulu Nageso Primary School of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The design was cross sectional
survey, involving 348 participants (185 males and 199 females, ages ranging from 6-16
years) who were selected by stratified random sampling method. Stool samples were
processed for microscopic examinations using direct wet mount technique and Kato-Katz
method. Weight and height of children were taken to assess body mass index (BMI) of each
study participant. The Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS
version 16) and anthropometry calculating software (Anthroplus). The National centre for
Health Statistics (NCHS) growth chart reference was used to estimate the prevalence of
underweight/thinness and stuntedness among study participants. The overall prevalence of
soil- transmitted helminth parasitic infection was 19.7 % (22.7% for males and 17.0% for
females). Double infection with two soil-transmitted helminthe p arasites was found in
0.8% (3/384) of the study participants. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichiuris
trichiura and hookworm infections were 15.1%, 2.8%, and 1.0%, respectively. The mean ±
SEM egg counts of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm were 111.9±15.9 (range 24-
480), 63.9±10.9 (range 24-480), and 36± 6.9 (range 24-48) eggs per gram of faeces,
respectively. The anthropometric indices of study participants in 6-9 years age group were
3.1%, 6.7%, and 6.1% for underweight, stunting, and wasting, respectively while the
prevalence of underweight/thinness in the 10-16 years age group was 4.1%. The present study
did not find any statistically significant (p=0.98) association between soil-transmitted
helminth parasitic infections and anthropometric indices (p>0.05). Coordinated work with
health officers and school community is required on the prevention of STH infection. Chemotherapy has to be complemented with other measures such as health education,
provision and use of latrines to control transmission of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the
study area
