Timor-Leste reduced soil-transmitted helminth (STH) prevalence from 29% to 18% by 2020 through mass drug administration (MDA) in 2015–2019. School-based deworming was interrupted for nearly four years during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2022 in 3 municipalities and nationwide in 2024. We aimed to estimate STH prevalence, geographical distribution and associated factors following the re-introduction of MDA.
We conducted a cross-sectional, school-based survey from 26 February to 1 May 2025 across all 14 municipalities of Timor-Leste, sampling two schools per municipality and targeting 50 children between 6 and 14 years of age per school. We employed the Kato-Katz technique for stool sample analysis which is the WHO-recommended method for STH surveillance. Associations between STH infection and risk factors were assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression.
Out of 1960 children, 1236 (63·1%) provided analysable samples (615 [49·8%] girls, 621 [50·2%] boys); median age of the children was 8·7 years (IQR 8–10, range 6–14); ethnicity data was not available. Weighted national STH prevalence was 29·3% (95% CI 24·3–34·2), close to the 2012 baseline (29%) and above the 2020 figure (18%). Prevalence ranged from 2·2% (Oe-Cusse) to 91·5% (Manatuto). Ascaris lumbricoides accounted for 95·8% of infections; moderate-to-heavy infections affected 15·7% of children.
}, year = {2026}, journal = {The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia}, volume = {54}, pages = {1 - 10}, month = {11/2026}, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, issn = {2772-3682}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368226001551/pdfft?md5=626d30d45e6bb8c3ef8aed9d51540eec&pid=1-s2.0-S2772368226001551-main.pdf}, doi = {10.1016/j.lansea.2026.100870}, language = {ENG}, }