Prevalence and intensity of geohelminths among primary school children and related factors in Temeke District,Dar es Salaam

Abstract

A cross sectional study was carried out between February and March 1998 in Temeke district. The aim was to determine the prevalence and intensity of soil transmitted helminths among primary school children aged 6 to 18 years and related factors. A simple random sampling method was used to select one primary school whereby all school children in that school were supposed to participate in this study. Out of 350 school children of that school, 290 school children participated in the study 'while the remaining 60 children did not participate for some reasons. Stool samples were collected and processed by modified Kato-Katz method to determine the egg count. All children found with soil transmitted helminths were treated with Albendazole and post-chemotherapy stools were collected over 48 hours and 72 hours to recover the expelled worms. The soil samples were taken from different places and processed by Baermann techniques to determine the ova and filariform larva of soil transmitted helminths. Questinnaires were administered to school children and teachers to asses their hygiene and awareness of the geohelminths. Data were analysed using SSPS and EPI-Info software. Results showed that soil transmitted helminths are a health problem to school children. The overall prevalence of A. lumbricoides was 4.1 % with a mean egg count of 192 eggs per gramme of faeces and a mean worm burden of 4 worms per

111 child. The overall prevalence of hookworm was 22.4% with a mean egg count of 183 eggs per gramme of faeces and the mean WOIm burden of 13 worms per child. The overall prevalence of T trichiura was 0.7% and that of S. stercolaris together with E. vermicularis was 1.7%. The results of soil samples showed that 45% of 60 samples were found with geohelminths. Hand washing behaviour and wearing of shoes had no association with the infection. It was concluded that although each school child knew at least one mode of transmission of soil transmitted helminths and prevention, the problem still remain in school children because they are living with the risk factors of infection. Therefore, it is recommended that the relevant authorities should have to find some -rnechanism of reducing the geohelminths infection. It is also recommended to treat all school children during dewonning programme without mind they are infected or not infected with geohelminths . •