Prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Northwestern Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study on Bengali and Santal women

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections remain a major public health challenge in low-resource settings. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence and risk factors of STH infections among reproductive-aged women (15–49 years) from the Bengali and Santal communities in Northwestern Bangladesh. A total of 352 women participated in a questionnaire assessing STH-related knowledge and practices, with 188 providing stool samples for parasitological analysis. The study revealed an overall STH prevalence of 81.9 % (154/188) among the surveyed women. Ascaris lumbricoides was the predominant species, infecting 78.72 % (148/188, 95 % CI: 72.0–84.2 %) of participants, followed by hookworm species 5.31 % (10/188, 95 % CI: 2.7–9.8 %) and Trichuris trichiura 3.19 % (6/188, 95 % CI: 1.3–7.1 %). Socioeconomic factors such as low income, limited education, occupation, and unsanitary toilet facilities were significantly associated with STH infections. Poor hygiene practices, consumption of undercooked food, and inadequate health education were also linked to higher infection rates. Additionally, irregular nail trimming and infrequent deworming medication use emerged as key behavioral risk factors. These findings underscore the need for targeted health education, improved sanitation, and regular deworming programs to reduce STH transmission. Strengthening community-based interventions and promoting hygienic practices could significantly alleviate the STH burden among rural women in Northwestern Bangladesh.