Risk factors associated with soil-transmitted helminth infections among school-age children in Muringari location, Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: The main species of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) that infect humans are the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale). STH and schistosomiasis (bilharzia) often occur in the same settings. Health records in Kamumu Dispensary situated in Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu County showed that intestinal worm infections in school-age children ranked third among the top ten diseases. Objective: This study sought to determine the prevalence of STH infections; to assess the impact of helminth infection and to determine risk factors associated with helminth infections among school-age children in five public primary schools. Methods: A total of 184 school-age children from five public primary schools were included in the study. Stool specimens were collected and examined by the Kato-Katz technique to identify species of worms and estimate their prevalence. A questionnaire and observation checklist were administered to collect data on demographic, socioeconomic, performance of examination, signs and symptoms of disease, absenteeism and water, sanitation and hygiene characteristics. Prevalence of STH infection among SAC was determined by laboratory stool analysis by using Kato-Katz technique. This method was also used to determine any other parasites. Results: The overall prevalence of schistosome and STH infections was 18.7% (95%CI: 8.3-42.1). Trichuris trichiura was the only STH species detected and its overall prevalence was 1.1% (95%CI: 0.3-4.3). Schistosoma mansoni was the only species of schistosome infection detected and its prevalence was 18.1% (95%CI: 7.7-42.9. The main clinical manifestations were abdominal pain, cough and nausea while one of the impacts of soil-transmitted helminths and bilharzia infection was likely to be absenteeism from school which accounted for 578 days lost cumulatively for all the children who indicated missing school due to illness. Children from male headed households were more secure from the infection, aOR = 0.22 (95%CI: 0.08-0.59). Conclusions: Schistosoma mansoni constituted the highest prevalence of infection at 18.1%. High numbers of school days (578) were lost as a result of helminth infection. Children in male headed households were significantly more secure against helminth infections. Key words: Soil-transmitted helminth infection, bilharzia, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), worm infection, school-age children, and Mbeere North Sub-county.