03320nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260004400042653002400086653005700110100001300167700001400180700001300194700001200207700001400219700001300233700001600246700001200262700001300274700001200287700001400299700001400313700001600327700001600343700001300359245010900372856008700481490000700568520240500575022001402980       2022                            d  bSpringer Science and Business Media LLC10aInfectious Diseases10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health1 aBelay DG1 aKibret AA1 aDiress M1 aGela YY1 aSinamaw D1 aSimegn W1 aAndualem AA1 aSeid AM1 aBitew DA1 aSeid MA1 aEshetu HB1 aJemere TD1 aShiferaw YF1 aShibabaw YY1 aChilot D00aDeworming among preschool age children in sub-Saharan Africa: pooled prevalence and multi-level analysis  uhttps://tropmedhealth.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s41182-022-00465-w.pdf0 v503 a<p>Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) preschool age children are more vulnerable to soil-transmitted helminths (STH) which caused millions of morbidity because of low socioeconomic status and lack of clean water and sanitation. Despite this problem, there is minimal evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with deworming medication utilization among preschool age children (pre-SAC) in SSA regions. Hence this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of deworming among preschool age children in SSA.</p>

<p>Methods: Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data were used for this study with a total weighted 192,652 children aged 24–59&nbsp;months. Taking deworming medication in the 6&nbsp;months preceding the interview was our outcome of interest. A multi-level binary logistic regression model was fitted. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was taken to identify significant variables.</p>

<p>Results: The prevalence of deworming medication utilization among preschool age children in SSA was 45.03% (95% CI 44.46%, 45.60%), ranging from 41.82% in Malawi to 50.5% in Lesotho. It was 44.91% (95% CI 44.32%, 45.51%) among countries having endemic STH infection and 46.01% (95% CI 43.64%, 48.38%) for none endemic countries. Factors such as; secondary and above women education [AOR = 2.18; 95% CI 2.10, 2.26], occupation [AOR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.27, 1.34], having ≥ 11 family members [AOR = 0.68; 95% CI 0.64, 0.70], household media exposure [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI 1.13, 1.19] and richer wealth status [AOR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.16, 1.27], vitamin A supplementation [AOR = 6.18; 95% CI 6.02, 6.33] and living rural residence [AOR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.92, 0.98] have significantly associated with deworming among preschool age children.</p>

<p>Conclusions: Utilization of deworming medication among pre-SAC children in sub-Saharan Africa is below half. Factors, such as the education status of women, family size, household media exposure, wealth status, diarrhea, vitamin A supplementation, and residence were significant variables. To increase the utilization of deworming medication for pre-SAC, WHO should work as an integrated approach with other stakeholders, by strengthening women’s education, and media exposure. Maternal employment should be promoted and prior attention should be given to rural children.</p>
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