03235nas a2200313 4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653001000081653001200091653003900103653004100142100001600183700001400199700001600213700001300229700001500242700001300257700001200270700001400282700001200296700001300308700001900321700001100340700001800351245009400369856003300463520241200496022001302908 2018 d10aEnvironmental and personal hygiene10aGhana10aMalaria10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aSoil-transmitted helminth infections1 aAdu-Gyasi D1 aAsante KP1 aFrempong MT1 aGyasi DK1 aIddrisu LF1 aAnkrah L1 aDosoo D1 aAdeniji E1 aAgyei O1 aGyaase S1 aAmenga-Etego S1 aGyan B1 aOwusu-Agyei S00aEpidemiology of soil transmitted helminth infections in the middle-belt of Ghana, Africa. uhttps://tinyurl.com/y9htt2583 a

Background

Helminths are among the most widespread infectious agents prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the developing world defined by inadequate sanitation, poverty and unsafe water sources. This study was carried out to describe the distribution of helminth and malaria parasite infections in the middle-belt of Ghana in sub-Saharan Africa where disease burden, including anaemia is rife and helminths are perceived to be significant contributors of the burden.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey involving 1826 residents located in the middle belt of Ghana where no or very little previous community-based helminth work had been carried out. The participants randomly recruited at household level provided biological samples collected over a 12-month period following a rigorous consenting process and these were analysed to describe the different types and seasonal distribution of helminths.

Findings

Overall, 19.3% intestinal helminth infection prevalence was documented. Also based on parasites targeted for elimination, 12.1% Hookworm, 4.0% Hymenolepis nana/Hymenolepis dimunita, 1.5% Ascaris lumbricoides, 1.5% Taenia species, 0.9% Strongyloides stercoralis and 0.8% Trichuris trichiura, with about 1.0% polyphelminthiasis were recorded in the survey. About 55.4% and 44.4% of the participants had heavy hookworm and Trichuris infections respectively. Most of the Ascariasis (83.3%) infections were light in intensity. Hookworm infection was identified with significant odds considering decreasing age (OR = 2.09, p = 0.03), inappropriate footwear use (OR = 1.88, p = 0.021), malaria parasite co-infection (OR = 1.62, p = 0.018), not scrubbing nails during hand washing (OR = 0.68, p = 0.048), source of drinking water (OR = 2.51, p = 0.027) and religion (OR = 4.36, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Hookworm infection was significantly higher in younger age groups and among those who did not have safe drinking water. Proper sanitation, protective footwear, religion and good personal hygiene practices were found to influence helminth and hookworm prevalence in the area. Malaria parasite coinfection with helminths, especially hookworm infections increased 2-fold.

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