Prevalence and associated factors of soil-transmitted helminth infections among children in previous leprosarium and non-leprosarium areas in Eastern Ethiopia: A community-based comparative study

TL;DR

This study found that children in former leprosy settlements in Eastern Ethiopia had a higher rate of soil-transmitted helminth infections than those in non-leprosy areas, with poor hygiene practices being a key factor.

Contribution

The study compares STH prevalence and risk factors in former leprosarium and non-leprosarium areas, identifying unique and shared risk behaviors.

Findings

The overall STH prevalence was 4.5%, with 5.7% in former leprosy settlements and 3.3% in non-leprosy areas.

Lack of hand washing after cleaning children who had defecated and before eating was linked to STHs in both areas.

Contact with soil and lack of hand washing after toilet use were risk factors only in former leprosy settlements.

Abstract

•The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) was 4.5%.•The prevalence of STHs was 5.7% and 3.3% among children in former leprosy and non-leprosy settlements, respectively.•Lack of hand washing after helping and cleaning children who had defecated and before eating was associated with STHs in both settlements.•However, lack of hand washing after toilet use and contact with soil were associated with STHs only in former leprosy settlements.

The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) was 4.5%.

The prevalence of STHs was 5.7% and 3.3% among children in former leprosy and non-leprosy settlements, respectively.

Lack of hand washing after helping and cleaning children who had defecated and before eating was associated with STHs in both settlements.

However, lack of hand washing after toilet use and contact with soil were associated with STHs only in former leprosy settlements.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infection is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that mainly affect peoples living in resource-limited settings and poor sanitation. However, the extent and potential predisposing factors of this infection among peoples living in previous leprosarium settlements in Eastern Ethiopia are not well understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and associated factors of STHs infections among children aged 1-15 years in previous leprosarium and non-leprosarium areas in Eastern Ethiopia.

A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 580 systematically selected households from November 1, 2023 to February 30, 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demography, and associated factors of STHs infections. Approximately 5 g of stool sample was collected and processed using the formol-ether concentration technique. Data were entered in Epi-Data version 4.2, and analysis was performed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 26. A chi-square test was used to show statistical differences between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between independent variables and STHs infection.

The overall prevalence of STHs infection was 4.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-16.80). The prevalence was 5.7% and 3.3% among children in previous leprosarium and non-leprosarium settlements, respectively (X2 = 7.98, P = 0.017). Having no habit of hand washing after helping and cleaning children who had defecated (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.26, 95% CI 1.20-5.80), (AOR = 4.90, 95% CI 2.21-9.33) and before eating (AOR = 3.25, 95% CI 1.40-11.23), (AOR = 18.70, 95% CI 9.21-38.21) was associated with STHs infection in both previous leprosarium and non-leprosarium settlements. However, having no habit of hand washing after toilet use (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.34-7.40) and contact with soil (AOR = 5.98, 95% CI 1.62-22.10) was significantly associated with STHs infection in previous leprosarium settlements only.

In this study, STHs infections disproportionately affect children living in previous leprosarium compared with non-leprosarium settlements. Therefore, targeted mass deworming and health information dissemination on proper hygiene and sanitation should be given to the community to alleviate the problem.

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