PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS  OF SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS AMONG  SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM SELECTED SCHOOLS  IN BAHIR DAR, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

TEWODROS, KALKIDAN

dc.contributor.author	TEWODROS, KALKIDAN
dc.date.accessioned	2021-07-29T13:32:40Z
dc.date.available	2021-07-29T13:32:40Z
dc.date.issued	2021-07-29
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/12292
dc.description.abstract	Soil-transmitted helminth infection (STHI) affect mainly the school children in Ethiopia. Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are transmitted through contaminated soil, resulting growth retardation, weight loss, anemia, school absenteeism, and poor academic performance in school children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth infections among school children from selected schools in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among school children in Bahir Dar from March to April 2021. The three primary schools were selected purposively by their closeness to the rural part of the city and also there is no epidemiological information present on the prevalence of STHI. A total of 422 children’s were selected using systematic random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding the socio- demographic characteristics and associated risk factors. A stool specimen was collected using sterilized stool cup and examined for the presence of STH microscopically using formol-ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Chi-square (χ2) test was performed to verify the possible association between the prevalence of STHs and potential risk factors. Logistic regression analysis was also done to estimate the strength of association between STHIs and potential risk factors. Variables that have P-value < 0.05 were taken statistically significant. The overall prevalence of STHI in the present study was 13.6%. The major STHs identified were hookworm (7.75%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (5.8%), and Trichuris trichuria (0.48%). Age was the only factor associated with STHIs (P<0.05). Students who were in the age group 7 to 10 years (AOR= 3.371; 95% CI: 1.442, 7.881) and 11 to 15 years (AOR= 2.268; 95% CI: 1.037, 4.959) were more likely to be infected by STHIs than the age group above 15 years. Even though, the study showed a relatively low prevalence of STHI (13.6%), proper follow-up should be practiced especially to the younger children and awareness creation programs should be given to all children so that they will practice healthy lifestyle.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.subject	Biology	en_US
dc.title	PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM SELECTED SCHOOLS IN BAHIR DAR, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US