Prevalence, intensity and control strategies of soil-transmitted helminth infections among pre-school age children after 10 years of preventive chemotherapy in Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia: A call for action

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm) are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ethiopia. Pre-school age children (PSAC) pay high morbidity toll associated with STH infections. Site specific operational evidence is lacking on prevalence, intensity and control strategies of STH among PSAC in Ethiopia. This study is, therefore, aimed to fill that missing knowledge gap. Methods: We did a community-based cross-sectional study in five districts of Gamo Gofa zone; from December 2018 to January 2019. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaire, and the Kato-Katz technique was used to diagnose parasites egg in stool. Then data were edited, coded and entered into EpiData 4.4.2, and exported to SPSS software (IBM, version 25) for analysis. Results: A total of 2462 PSAC participated in this study. Overall, the prevalence of STH was 23.5% (578/2462). Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent, 18.6% (457/2462), followed by Trichuris trichiura, 9.2% (226/2462), and hookworm, 3.1% (76/2462). The prevalence of STH in Chencha, Dita, Deremalo, Bonke and Demba Gofa districts were 33.8% (210/622), 26.4% (109/413), 21.3% (88/414), 20.6% (128/621), and 11% (43/392), respectively. Of the total, 7.4% (181/2462) PSAC were infected with two STH species. Ascaris lumbricodes infections had moderate intensity (15%), and the rest had low infections intensity. It is found that 68.7% of PSAC were treated with Albendazole. This study also revealed households level data as, 39.4% used water from hand-dug well, 52.5% of need to move ≥30minutes to collect water, 77.5% did not treat water, and 48.9% not had hand washing facility. Conclusion: This study showed that a significant proportion of pre-school age children are suffering from STH infections across districts in the study area despite preventive chemotherapy distribution for more than 10 years. Further, gaps in control strategies of STH were highlighted, which calls for action.

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Soil-transmitted helminth infections among pre-school aged children in Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia: Prevalence, intensity and intervention status

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0243946 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. e0243946

Author(s):

Mekuria Asnakew Asfaw ◽

Tigist Gezmu ◽

Teklu Wegayehu ◽

Alemayehu Bekele ◽

Zeleke Hailemariam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Trichuris Trichiura ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Preventive Chemotherapy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Dug Well ◽

Gamo Gofa

Background Soil-transmitted helminths (STH), i.e., Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms are among the most prevalent Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ethiopia. Although pre-school aged children pay a high morbidity toll associated with STH infections, evidence on prevalence, intensity and intervention status is lacking in Ethiopia. This study, therefore, aimed to address these gaps to inform decision made on STH. Methods We did a community-based cross-sectional study in five districts of Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia; in January 2019. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaire, and the Kato-Katz technique was used to diagnose parasites eggs in stool. Then, collected data were edited and entered into EpiData 4.4.2, and exported to SPSS software (IBM, version 25) for analysis. Results A total of 2462 PSAC participated in this study. Overall, the prevalence of STH was 23.5% (578/2462) (95% confidence interval (CI) = 21.8%–25.2%). As caris lumbricoides was the most prevalent (18.6%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (9.2%), and hookworms (3.1%). Of the total, 7.4% PSAC were infected with two STH species. Most of the positive cases with STH showed low infection intensities, while 15.1% ascariasis cases showed moderate infection intensities. The study found that 68.7% of PSAC were treated with albendazole. Also, household’s level data showed that 39.4% used water from hand-dug well; 52.5% need to travel ≥30 minutes to collect water; 77.5% did not treat water, and 48.9% had no hand washing facility. In addition, almost 93% care givers achieved less than the mean knowledge and practice score (≤5) on STH prevention. Conclusions This study showed that significant proportions of pre-school aged children are suffering from STH infections despite preventive chemotherapy exist at the study area. Also, gaps in the interventions against STH were highlighted. Thus, a call for action is demanding to eliminate STH among PSAC in Ethiopia by 2030.

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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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Associations between infection intensity categories and morbidity prevalence in school-age children are much stronger for Schistosoma haematobium than for S. mansoni

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009444 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. e0009444

Author(s):

Ryan E. Wiegand ◽

W. Evan Secor ◽

Fiona M. Fleming ◽

Michael D. French ◽

Charles H. King ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ultrasound Image ◽

Infection Intensity ◽

Control Program ◽

Monitoring And Evaluation ◽

World Health ◽

Current Status ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Preventive Chemotherapy ◽

Urogenital Schistosomiasis

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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Comparative prevalences of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm infections and the prospects for combined control

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000073807 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 105 (1) ◽

pp. 151-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

M. Booth ◽

D. A. P. Bundy

Keyword(s):

Ascaris Lumbricoides ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Trichuris Trichiura ◽

Hookworm Infection ◽

Simultaneous Control ◽

Precise Locality ◽

Combined Control ◽

Multiple Species ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics ◽

Hookworm Infections

Programmes to control Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm infections have often been targeted at each infection separately, but the advent of benign and broad-spectrum anthelmintics suggests that combined control ma be feasible. The extent to which the infections co-occur in communities will determine the need for, and potential benefits of, such a combined approach. This paper examines the comparative distribution of the three geohelminths in different geographical areas and shows that A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura have closely related distributions, while hookworm infection is largely independent of the other two. These results indicate that many communities are at risk of disease from infection by more than one species of helminth. The similar distributions and epidemiological characteristics of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura suggest that simultaneous control of these two parasites by the same strategy would be feasible and highly beneficial to communities. Multiple species control strategies which aim to control hookworm infection may require a more complicated protocol with more precise locality targeting.

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The effect of task complexity on handwriting kinetics

Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1177/0008417419832327 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 158-168

Author(s):

Yu-Chen Lin ◽

Yen-Li Chao ◽

Chieh-Hsiang Hsu ◽

Hsiao-Man Hsu ◽

Po-Tsun Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Task Complexity ◽

Age Groups ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Writing Performance ◽

Force Ratio ◽

The Difference ◽

Cross Sectional Design ◽

And Control

Background. Knowledge regarding the relationship between writing kinetics and the difference among writing tasks is limited. Purpose. This study examined the differences in handwriting performance when doing tasks with different levels of challenge from both temporal and kinetic perspectives among children in four different age groups. Method. The cross-sectional design introduced a force-acquisition pen to detect differences of pen grip and writing kinetics among 170 school-age children doing writing tasks at different difficulty levels. Data were obtained on the force information of the digits and pen tip and the kinetic parameters to examine the coordination-and-control mechanism between the digits and pen. Statistical analyzes were carried out to indicate the differences in writing performance among groups and tasks. Findings. Statistical differences in the pen-grip forces, force fluctuation, and force ratio between grip and pen-tip forces were found when performing different writing tasks and among different age groups. Implications. The study provides an alternative method to explore how writing performance among school-age children can vary according to the difficulty of the writing tasks.

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Influence of Therapeutic Play on the anxiety of hospitalized school-age children: Clinical trial

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0353 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 70 (6) ◽

pp. 1244-1249 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sabrina Gisele Tobias da Silva ◽

Maiara Aurichio Santos ◽

Claudia Maria de Freitas Floriano ◽

Elaine Buchhorn Cintra Damião ◽

Fernanda Vieira de Campos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

School Age Children ◽

Control Group ◽

School Age ◽

Chi Square ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Therapeutic Play ◽

And Control

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effects of Dramatic Therapeutic Play (DTP) technique on the degree of anxiety in hospitalized school-age children. Method: Randomized clinical trial performed in two hospitals ofSão Paulo, between May and October 2015. The intervention consisted of the application of DTP and the outcome was evaluated through the Child Drawing: Hospital (CD: H) instrument. The Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney, Corrected t, Fisher’s exact and Chi-square tests were used in the analysis. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: In all, 28 children participated in the study. The majority of children (75%) had a low anxiety score, with a mean CD: H score of 73.9 and 69.4 in the intervention and control groups respectively, and with no significant difference. Conclusion: Children submitted to DTP had the same degree of anxiety as those in the control group. However, it is suggested that new studies be performed with a larger number of children in different hospitalization scenarios.

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A Cross-Sectional Study of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Soil Transmitted Helminthes Infection and Stunting Among School-aged Children in Ibadan

10.1101/2020.01.16.908848 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

A. G. Ibrahim ◽

M.K. Tijani ◽

R. I. Nwuba

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

And Control

AbstractBackgroundIn developing countries, infections caused by soil-transmitted helminthes (STH), such as Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm, pose major public health problems among the school-age children, resulting in impaired physical growth such as stunting and thinness, and cognitive development. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of STH infections, stunting and thinness, and risk factors among school-age-children in Ibadan. This becomes highly imperative in order to serve as a guide on the prevention and control.MethodA cross-sectional study was carried out in 8 primary schools at Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria, between May and November 2018. All the school-age-children between the ages 5 and 18 years old (mean 10.4 ± 1.7 years), from primary one to six took part in the study. Demographic data were obtained and STH infections was analysed in single-stool samples by Kato-Katz. Anthropometric parameters were taken to calculate Height for-age Z score (HAZ) and Body-Mass-Index (BMI) for-age Z score (BAZ), in order to determine among school-aged-children stunting and thinness respectively.ResultsIn overall, 458 school-age-children partook in the study. The prevalence of STH was 9.0%, out of which 7.6%, 2.8% and 1.5% were recorded for Ascaris, Trichuris and multiparasitism respectively. The overall prevalence obtained revealed that the results of stunting and thinness (HAZ < -2SD, BAZ < -2SD) were 24.7% and 27.3% respectively based on the WHO Child Growth Standards (2007). Notably, ages of the children (P< 0.01), their classes (P=0.05), different schools (P=0.003), washing of hands after toileting (P = 0.05) were important risk factors determining STH infection, HAZ and BAZ.ConclusionThe study showed that specific risk factors among school children in the studied area will make them vulnerable with high risk of STH infection, HAZ and BAZ. Effective prevention and control strategies can be well planned when risk factors and dynamics of transmission in vulnerable groups have been painstakingly identified.SummaryAscaris, Trichuris and hookworm are responsible for major public health problems among the school-age children (SAC); this has led to stunting and thinness, and impaired cognitive development. With the aim to determine prevalence of STH infections, stunting, thinness and associated risk factors, a cross-sectional study of STH infection in 8 primary schools at Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria was conducted in 2018. School-aged children between the ages of 5 and 18 were enrolled, demographic data, stool samples and anthropometric parameters were obtained in order to determine STH infection and nutritional status. 9.0% was the prevalence of STH, the prevalence of 7.6%, 2.8% and 1.5% were recorded for Ascaris, Trichuris and multiparasitism respectively, while 24.7% and 27.3% were obtained for stunting and thinness respectively. The children’s age, hand washing after toileting and locations of the different schools were significantly correlated with STH infection, HAZ and BAZ. This study is highly imperative because its shows some risk factors associated with STH infection, HAZ and BAZ among SAC, this can serve as a guide on the prevention and control among SAC.

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ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES: EPIDEMIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND CONTROL

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i4.36930 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 8-11

Author(s):

KANAAN AL-TAMEEMI ◽

RAIAAN KABAKLI

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Ascaris Lumbricoides ◽

Intestinal Parasite ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Mechanisms Of Resistance ◽

Neglected Disease ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Resistance To Infection ◽

And Control

Although Ascaris lumbricoides is a common intestinal parasite of humans with worldwide distribution causing ascariasis, Ascaris is a neglected disease and still is a burden in developing countries. Furthermore, the parasite’s permanence and prevalence present difficulties in control strategies. Therefore, more research on the mechanisms of resistance to infection is required for reducing prevalence parasite and control of infections.

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