03038nas a2200181   4500000000100000008004100001653013600042100001200178700001400190700001200204700001200216245019800228856008800426300000800514490000700522520231300529022001402842       2016                            d10aAssociated risk factor; Ethiopia; Intensity of infection; Preschool-aged children; Schistosoma mansoni; Soil-transmitted helminthes1 aAlemu A1 aTegegne Y1 aDamte D1 aMelku M00aSchistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminths among preschool-aged children in Chuahit, Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia: prevalence, intensity of infection and associated risk factors.  uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4876558/pdf/12889_2016_Article_2864.pdf  a4220 v163 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis are the major public health problems globally. Compared with any other age group, pre-school aged children and school-aged children are the most exposed. There are few studies showing the burden of intestinal schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis among pre-school aged children in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminths and associated risk factors among preschool aged children of Chuahit and surrounding Kebeles, Northwest Ethiopia.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>A community based cross sectional study was conducted from February 2 to March 27 2015. Four hundred one preschool-aged children were included in the study by using two stage cluster sampling technique. Pretested structured questionnaire was employed to collected data via face-to-face interview technique. A single stool specimen was collected, and a portion of the sample was processed by Kato Katz method.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Of the total children, 141 (35.2&nbsp;%) harbored one or more intestinal helminthes. Schistosoma mansoni was found in 45 (11.2&nbsp;%) of preschool age children. Ascaris lumbricoides was the predominant isolate, 77 (19.2&nbsp;%) followed by S. mansoni, 45 (11.2&nbsp;%). The least parasites isolated were Tania species, 2 (0.5&nbsp;%). After adjusting for other variables, being mothers who did not have the habit of washing hands after toilet (AOR = 7.3, 95%CI: 2.97-17.95), being occupationally housewife mothers (AOR = 8.9, 95%CI: 2.27-25.4), using protected spring water as a main family source of water (AOR = 3.9, 95%CI: 1.2-12.3) and child habit of not wearing shoe (AOR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.01-3.64) were significantly associated with high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among preschool-age children in Chuahit.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>The current study showed that relatively higher level of STH and S. mansoni among preschool-aged children in Chuahit. This finding calls for a need of public health education, promotion of women education and provision of safe water to reduce the burden of soil-transmitted intestinal helminthiasis and schistosomiaisis.</p>
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