Prevalence and Intensity of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Parasitic Infections and their Associations with Anthropometric Measurements of School Children in Tulu Nageso Primary School, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

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