03112nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260003600042653003100078653002500109653002400134653001400158653001400172653001900186100001200205700001300217700001300230700001300243245014200256856006400398300001200462490000700474520236300481022001402844       2019                            d  bBentham Science Publishers Ltd.10aSoil-transmitted helminths10aAscaris lumbricoides10aTrichuris trichiura10aHookworms10aIntensity10aKashmir valley1 aTembo S1 aMubita P1 aSitali L1 aZgambo J00aPrevalence, Intensity, and Factors Associated with Soil-Transmitted Helminths Infection among Children in Zambia: A Cross-sectional Study  uhttps://openpublichealthjournal.com/VOLUME/12/PAGE/284/PDF/  a284-2930 v123 a<p><strong>Background</strong></p>

<p>Soil-transmitted helminths are among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) of poverty. They are a common type of parasitic infections in the world, caused by three main species commonly known as roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms. The diseases have major health and socio-economic repercussions and significantly contribute to public health problems in developing countries.</p>

<p><strong>Objectives</strong></p>

<p>This study investigated the prevalence, intensity, and factors associated with soil-transmitted helminths among children in Chililabombwe district of Zambia.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>A cross-sectional design was used, consisting of 411 guardian – child pairs aged between 17-77 years and 1-15 years, respectively. This was conducted between October and December 2017. Systematic sampling and simple random sampling were used to select the household and 411 participants, respectively. The study used a structured pre-tested questionnaire and stool tests to obtain information on socio-demographic, environmental, behavioral, and service-related factors associated with helminth infection. Stool samples were collected and examined for the presence of parasites using formol-ether concentration and Kato-Katz techniques. Geometric mean was used to report the intensity of infection. An investigator-led stepwise regression was used to identify factors associated with developing Soil-Transmitted Helminth infection and the level of significance was set at 0.05.</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infection was 59/411 (14.4%) and the most dominant parasite was roundworms 58/411 (14.1%). The overall intensity of infection was light (&lt;5000epg) with a few heavy infections (&gt;50000epg). Factors independently associated with soil-transmitted helminth infection after adjusting for other variables were residence (AOR=0.26; 95% CI [0.09-0.73]), household income (AOR=2.49; 95% CI [1.01-6.12]), and overcrowding (AOR =1.33; 95% CI [1.09-1.62]).</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>

<p>Our findings indicate that STH infections are still prevalent. Low household income, residence, and overcrowding are the factors associated with infection. This indicates that reinfection is common even after deworming.</p>
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