School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in Honduras
Abstract Background Among many neglected tropical diseases endemic in Honduras, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are of particular importance. However, knowledge gaps remain in terms of risk factors involved in infection transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-354 |
| _version_ | 1797811752060059648 |
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| author | José Antonio Gabrie María Mercedes Rueda Maritza Canales Theresa W Gyorkos Ana Lourdes Sanchez |
| author_facet | José Antonio Gabrie María Mercedes Rueda Maritza Canales Theresa W Gyorkos Ana Lourdes Sanchez |
| author_sort | José Antonio Gabrie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Among many neglected tropical diseases endemic in Honduras, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are of particular importance. However, knowledge gaps remain in terms of risk factors involved in infection transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors associated with STH infections in schoolchildren living in rural Honduras. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among Honduran rural schoolchildren in 2011. Demographic, socio-economic, and epidemiological data were obtained through a standardized questionnaire and STH infections were determined by the Kato-Katz method. Logistic regression models accounting for school clustering were used to assess putative risk factors for infection. Results A total of 320 children completed the study. Prevalences for any STH and for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were: 72.5%, 30.3%, 66.9% and 15.9%, respectively. A number of risk factors were identified at the individual, household, and school level. Boys were at increased odds of infection with hookworms (OR 2.33, 95% CI = 1.23-4.42). Higher socio-economic status in the family had a protective effect against infections by A. lumbricoides (OR 0.80, 95% CI = 0.65-0.99) and T. trichiura (OR 0.77, 95% CI = 0.63-0.94). Low school hygiene conditions significantly increased the odds for ascariasis (OR 14.85, 95% CI = 7.29-30.24), trichuriasis (OR 7.32, 95% CI = 3.71-14.45), mixed infections (OR 9.02, 95% CI = 4.66-17.46), and ascariasis intensity of infection (OR 3.32, 95% CI = 1.05 -10.52). Children attending schools not providing deworming treatment or that had provided it only once a year were at increased odds of ascariasis (OR 10.40, 95% CI = 4.39-24.65), hookworm (OR 2.92, 95% CI = 1.09-7.85) and mixed infections (OR 10.57, 95% CI = 4.53-24.66). Conclusions Poverty-reduction strategies will ultimately lead to sustainable control of STH infections in Honduras, but as shorter-term measures, uninterrupted bi-annual deworming treatment paired with improvements in school sanitary conditions may result in significant reductions of STH prevalence among Honduran schoolchildren. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5cd0184725074f5b81b1f26814a22c82 |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:20Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5cd0184725074f5b81b1f26814a22c822023-06-04T11:16:46ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052014-08-017111510.1186/1756-3305-7-354School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in HondurasJosé Antonio Gabrie0María Mercedes Rueda1Maritza Canales2Theresa W Gyorkos3Ana Lourdes Sanchez4Department of Health Sciences, Brock UniversitySchool of Microbiology, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH)School of Microbiology, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH)Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health CentreDepartment of Health Sciences, Brock UniversityAbstract Background Among many neglected tropical diseases endemic in Honduras, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are of particular importance. However, knowledge gaps remain in terms of risk factors involved in infection transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors associated with STH infections in schoolchildren living in rural Honduras. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among Honduran rural schoolchildren in 2011. Demographic, socio-economic, and epidemiological data were obtained through a standardized questionnaire and STH infections were determined by the Kato-Katz method. Logistic regression models accounting for school clustering were used to assess putative risk factors for infection. Results A total of 320 children completed the study. Prevalences for any STH and for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were: 72.5%, 30.3%, 66.9% and 15.9%, respectively. A number of risk factors were identified at the individual, household, and school level. Boys were at increased odds of infection with hookworms (OR 2.33, 95% CI = 1.23-4.42). Higher socio-economic status in the family had a protective effect against infections by A. lumbricoides (OR 0.80, 95% CI = 0.65-0.99) and T. trichiura (OR 0.77, 95% CI = 0.63-0.94). Low school hygiene conditions significantly increased the odds for ascariasis (OR 14.85, 95% CI = 7.29-30.24), trichuriasis (OR 7.32, 95% CI = 3.71-14.45), mixed infections (OR 9.02, 95% CI = 4.66-17.46), and ascariasis intensity of infection (OR 3.32, 95% CI = 1.05 -10.52). Children attending schools not providing deworming treatment or that had provided it only once a year were at increased odds of ascariasis (OR 10.40, 95% CI = 4.39-24.65), hookworm (OR 2.92, 95% CI = 1.09-7.85) and mixed infections (OR 10.57, 95% CI = 4.53-24.66). Conclusions Poverty-reduction strategies will ultimately lead to sustainable control of STH infections in Honduras, but as shorter-term measures, uninterrupted bi-annual deworming treatment paired with improvements in school sanitary conditions may result in significant reductions of STH prevalence among Honduran schoolchildren.https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-354Soil-transmitted helminthsGeohelminthsSchoolchildrenRisk factorsDewormingHygiene |
| spellingShingle | José Antonio Gabrie María Mercedes Rueda Maritza Canales Theresa W Gyorkos Ana Lourdes Sanchez School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in Honduras Parasites & Vectors Soil-transmitted helminths Geohelminths Schoolchildren Risk factors Deworming Hygiene |
| title | School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in Honduras |
| title_full | School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in Honduras |
| title_fullStr | School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in Honduras |
| title_full_unstemmed | School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in Honduras |
| title_short | School hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil-transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in Honduras |
| title_sort | school hygiene and deworming are key protective factors for reduced transmission of soil transmitted helminths among schoolchildren in honduras |
| topic | Soil-transmitted helminths Geohelminths Schoolchildren Risk factors Deworming Hygiene |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-354 |
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