Soil Transmitted Helminth Infection and Facors Affecting Preventive
                        Chemotherapy for School-Age Children in Capiz and Iloilo Provinces
                        Post-Typhoon Haiyan

Background World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for measuring global progress in schistosomiasis control classify individuals with Schistosoma spp. infections based on the concentration of excreted eggs. We assessed the associations between WHO infection intensity categories and morbidity prevalence for selected S. haematobium and S. mansoni morbidities in school-age children. Methodology A total of 22,488 children aged 6–15 years from monitoring and evaluation cohorts in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia from 2003–2008 were analyzed using Bayesian logistic regression. Models were utilized to evaluate associations between intensity categories and the prevalence of any urinary bladder lesion, any upper urinary tract lesion, microhematuria, and pain while urinating (for S. haematobium) and irregular hepatic ultrasound image pattern (C-F), enlarged portal vein, laboratory-confirmed diarrhea, and self-reported diarrhea (for S. mansoni) across participants with infection and morbidity data. Principal findings S. haematobium infection intensity categories possessed consistent morbidity prevalence across surveys for multiple morbidities and participants with light infections had elevated morbidity levels, compared to negative participants. Conversely, S. mansoni infection intensity categories lacked association with prevalence of the morbidity measures assessed. Conclusions/significance Current status infection intensity categories for S. haematobium were associated with morbidity levels in school-age children, suggesting urogenital schistosomiasis morbidity can be predicted by an individual’s intensity category. Conversely, S. mansoni infection intensity categories were not consistently indicative of childhood morbidity at baseline or during the first two years of a preventive chemotherapy control program.

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Clinical evaluation for morbidity associated with soil-transmitted helminth infection in school-age children on Pemba Island, Tanzania

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0007581 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. e0007581

Author(s):

Isaac I. Bogoch ◽

Benjamin Speich ◽

Nathan C. Lo ◽

Wendelin Moser ◽

David Croll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Evaluation ◽

Helminth Infection ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Pemba Island

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Controlling Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in Pre-School-Age Children through Preventive Chemotherapy

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0000126 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. e126 ◽

Cited By ~ 144

Author(s):

Marco Albonico ◽

Henrietta Allen ◽

Lester Chitsulo ◽

Dirk Engels ◽

Albis-Francesco Gabrielli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Preventive Chemotherapy ◽

Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis

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Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors among Schoolchildren in Durbete Town, Northwestern Ethiopia

Journal of Parasitology Research ◽

10.1155/2015/641602 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Tilahun Alelign ◽

Abraham Degarege ◽

Berhanu Erko

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Control Strategy ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Helminth Infection ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Helminth Infections ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Associated Risk Factors

Identifying determinants of soil transmitted helminth infection is vital to design control strategy for the disease. This study assessed the prevalence of STH infections and associated factors among schoolchildren in Durbete town, northwestern Ethiopia. Data about the sociodemographic and socioeconomic status of the children were collected using a questionnaire and stool samples were diagnosed using thick Kato-Katz smear. STH infection was more common among school-age children in Durbete town. Hookworm was the most frequent helminth species detected. The prevalence of STH infection was more in children who did not practice wearing shoes and washing hands before eating and in those who were older in age. Deworming of school-age children in the study area would be important. In addition, provision of health education about helminths and the importance of wearing shoes and washing hands before eating would be important to reduce the burden of STH infection in the study area.

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Preventive chemotherapy coverage against Soil-transmitted helminthiases among school age children in vertical versus integrated treatment approaches: Implications from coverage validation survey in Ethiopia

10.1101/2020.03.18.20038620 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mekuria Asfaw ◽

Zerihun Zerdo ◽

Chuchu Churko ◽

Fikre Seife ◽

Manaye Yihune ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Integrated Treatment ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Mass Treatment ◽

Age Group ◽

Preventive Chemotherapy ◽

Treatment Coverage ◽

Soil Transmitted Helminths ◽

Sanitation And Hygiene

AbstractBackgroundSoil-transmitted helminths (STH) are widely distributed in Ethiopia with highest prevalence and burden. Since 2015 the country launched national deworming programme to control STH associated morbidity using mass treatment with Albendazole/Mebendazole. Data on routine coverage of Preventive chemotherapy (PC) are available at different level of the health system, however in some circumstances these reports are unreliable and evidence is lacking on validated treatment coverage against STH.MethodologyA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in ten districts of Ethiopia; from January to April 2019. A total of 8154 SAC (4100 males and 4054 females) were participated from randomly selected households. Data were analysed using SPSS software (IBM, version 25); then di-aggregated by gender, age and school attendance and presented in tables and graphs.Principal findingsAlbendazole/Mebendazole mass treatment coverage against STH among school-age children was found to be 71%. In vertical (school-based) treatment approach, 4822(68.4%) were treated; whereas in integrated (community directed) approach, 963(86.9 %) were treated. The treatment coverage among males was 2948(71.9%), while among females it was 2837(70%). Based on age the treatment coverage in the age group 10-14 years was 77%; which is higher than the coverage in age group 5-9 years was 64.4%. In addition, the treatment coverage in school attendant was 81%; which is higher than coverage non-enrolled children (28%). The main deworming site was school, 5223(91%). Moreover, the main reported reasons for not swallowing drugs were not attending school, 422(19.75%) and drugs were not given, 397(18.6%).Concussions/significanceAlbendazole/Mebendazole mass treatment coverage against soil-transmitted helminths among school-age children was below the WHO recommendation (75%). Operational research is required to identify barriers for low coverage of ALB/MBD among children who are non-enrolled school-age children. Further, a call for action is required from different stakeholders to improve treatment coverage of ALB/MBD.Author SummaryNeglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of communicable diseases, which inequitably affect the world’s poorest, marginalized, voiceless and powerless people. It is prevalent in areas with unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene. STH (ascariasis, hookworm, and trichuriasis), intestinal worms, are one of the common NTDs which are transmitted through contact with soil contaminated with human feces.Globally, more than 4 billion people are at risk for STH and with over 1 billion are already infected. In Ethiopia, about 81 million people are at risk for STH infection. School age children and pre-school age children are highly affected by the diseases, and it causes anemia, vitamin A deficiency, stunting, malnutrition, impaired development, and intestinal obstruction.As one of NTDS, ending STH can contribute to Ethiopia be on track of attaining universal health coverage (UHC). STH can be controlled, possibly eliminated by combined interventions of preventive chemotherapy with improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). In Ethiopia, though remarkable attainments are made so far on controlling STH morbidity through mapping and scaling-up mass drug administration, still more work is required to increase coverage of PC and integration of PC with WASH to meet the national objectives of elimination or control of STH.

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Urogenital schistosomiasis infection prevalence targets to determine elimination as a public health problem based on microhematuria prevalence in school-age children

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009451 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. e0009451

Author(s):

Ryan E. Wiegand ◽

Fiona M. Fleming ◽

Anne Straily ◽

Susan P. Montgomery ◽

Sake J. de Vlas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Problem ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

School Age Children ◽

Infection Prevalence ◽

School Age ◽

Infection Level ◽

Preventive Chemotherapy ◽

Urogenital Schistosomiasis ◽

Morbidity Control

Background Recent research suggests that schistosomiasis targets for morbidity control and elimination as a public health problem could benefit from a reanalysis. These analyses would define evidence-based targets that control programs could use to confidently assert that they had controlled or eliminated schistosomiasis as a public health problem. We estimated how low Schistosoma haematobium infection levels diagnosed by urine filtration in school-age children should be decreased so that microhematuria prevalence was at, or below, a “background” level of morbidity. Methodology Data obtained from school-age children in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Tanzania, and Zambia who participated in schistosomiasis monitoring and evaluation cohorts were reanalyzed before and after initiation of preventive chemotherapy. Bayesian models estimated the infection level prevalence probabilities associated with microhematuria thresholds ≤10%, 13%, or 15%. Principal findings An infection prevalence of 5% could be a sensible target for urogenital schistosomiasis morbidity control in children as microhematuria prevalence was highly likely to be below 10% in all surveys. Targets of 8% and 11% infection prevalence were highly likely to result in microhematuria levels less than 13% and 15%, respectively. By contrast, measuring heavy-intensity infections only achieves these thresholds at impractically low prevalence levels. Conclusions/Significance A target of 5%, 8%, or 11% urogenital schistosomiasis infection prevalence in school-age children could be used to determine whether a geographic area has controlled or eliminated schistosomiasis as a public health problem depending on the local background threshold of microhematuria.

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Prevalence of Soil-transmitted Helminth Infections Among School-age Children in Ethiopia: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1014995/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Muluken Azage ◽

Achenef Motbainor ◽

Genet Gedamu ◽

Wendemagegne Enbiale

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Control Measures ◽

School Age Children ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

School Age ◽

Preventive Chemotherapy ◽

Pooled Prevalence

Abstract Background: In Ethiopia, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STHs) infections remain the leading cause of morbidity among school-age children despite the progress in the implementation of control measures. Study findings regarding prevalence of STH among school-age children have been inconsistent and pooled prevalence of STH infections did not account double or triple infections of STH. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the pooled prevalence of STH by accounting double or triple infections among school-age children in Ethiopia.Methods: Databases and search engines such as PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. Based on the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was employed to determine the prevalence of STH infections among school-age children. Published articles in the period between 1980 and 2020 were included in the analysis. Three authors independently extracted all data using a data extraction format sheet. STATA Version 16 statistical software was used for analysis. The Cochran’s Q-test was used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the studies and a random-effects model was done to determine pooled prevalence estimate.Results: The overall pooled estimate of STHs was 33% (95% CI:26-39%). The prevalence did not show statistically differ between before, 32.0% (95% CI:25-39%) and after, 33% (95% CI:26-39%) National NTDs control and elimination programme. The pooled prevalence of ascariasis before and after the implementation of NTDs programme was found to be 18% (12.0%, 24%) and 18% (9.0%, 27.0%), respectively with a total pooled estimate of 18.0% (13.0%, 23.0%). The prevalence of trichuris trichuria was also found to be 8.0% (4.0%, 12.0%) before the programme and 15.0% (4%, 26%) after the programme with a total pooled estimate of 10.0% (5.0%, 14.0%). The prevalence of hookworm was 14.0% (9.0%, 19.0%) before the programme and 9.0% (3.0%, 14.0%) after the programme with a total pooled estimate of 12% (8.0%, 17.0%). Conclusion: The overall polled prevalence of STHs in Ethiopia was found at moderate level based on the WHO classification. The recommended control strategies for STHs infections in school-age children at this level of prevalence such as providing preventive chemotherapy or treat all school-age children (enrolled and non-enrolled) once a year, improving sanitation and water supply and providing health education should be strengthen to mee the target of the national and WHO plan.

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Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases Among Pre-School Age Children (12-59 Months) and WASH Condition in Mkuranga, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-47434/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ummul-khair Musfata ◽

Donath Samuel Tarimo

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hand Washing ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Preventive Chemotherapy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significance Level ◽

Potential Source ◽

Treated Drinking Water

Abstract BackgroundNational efforts for STH control have hitherto been concentrated on school age children (SAC) excluding pre-school age children (PSAC). Though Preventive Chemotherapy (PC) for PSAC has been going on during deworming and vitamin A supplementation campaigns in the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) clinics since 2004, it has not been optimal because not all PSAC receive PC thus remaining vulnerable to STH infections and potential source of community transmission. This study examined the prevalence and intensity of STHs infections among PSAC and the associated water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) factors in Mkuranga district, Tanzania.MethodsA quantitative community based cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2019. Stool samples from 525 PSAC were examined for STH infections. This was complemented with a questionnaire interview of mothers/caretakers of the PSAC to obtain their socio-demographic characteristics and WASH practices. An observation check list was used to gather environmental WASH practices. Data were analyzed by statistical computer package (SPSS version 23), and summarized by descriptive statistics; proportions were compared by the Chi-square test at the significance level of 0.05.ResultsThe overall prevalence of STH infection was very low (1.3%) and was significantly associated with condition of child finger nails (P= 0.001) and place of disposal of faecal matter (P= 0.031). Latrine coverage was very high (97.3%), while disposal of children faeces was 100% hygienic. Less than a half (43.6%) of households were using improved latrines. Majority (95%) of households had access to improved water sources; however, only few (5.3%) treated drinking water. Very few (1.3%) households owned hand washing facilities, conceivably leading to a low practice of hand washing with soap at food preparation (12.8%), child feeding (13%), after defecation (34.1%) and after handling children faeces (23%). Nail trimming habit was very good as a large majority (83.8%) of caretakers and corresponding children (87.2%) had their finger nails trimmed at time of survey.Conclusion PSAC are a reservoir of STHs infections, which coupled with the prevalent risk factors of transmission, form a potential source of continuity of transmission in the community, hence the need for a national deworming program extending to PSAC*Corresponding author: Address: P. O. BOX 2329, Dar es Salaam, email: [email protected];

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