Prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminthes Infections and its Determinants among Primary School Children in Gena Bossa Tiworeda, Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) infection is a major public health problem among school-aged children in developing countries. In Ethiopia, school-aged children have been identified as a high-risk group of population to be infected with Soil Transmitted Helminthes. Effective prevention and control of STH infection require the identification of risk factors among high-risk groups. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminthes infections and its determinants among primary school children in Gena Bossa Woreda, Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Gena Bossa Woreda, Ethiopia. The data were collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaires. Simple random sampling technique was used. Data analysis was done by SPSS for Windows Version 20.0. Bivariate and Multivariate logistic regressions analyses were conducted. p-value <0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables. Result: About 303 (97.7%) of the study subjects participated in the study. Above one-third (38.3%) of the study, participants were tested positive for at least one of the STH species. lumbricoides (42.1%) was the predominant parasite followed by Hookworms (37.4%) and T. trichiura (11.2%). Lack of private latrines (AOR=4.12, 95% CI: 1.64 and 3.37), not wearing shoes always (AOR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.23), age of children (5 to 10 years) (AOR=2.43, 95%, CI: 1.42 and 4.16) and not knowing causative agents of STH infection (AOR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.37 and 4.93) were found to be determinants of Soil Transmitted Helminthes Infections. Conclusion: Lack of private latrines, not wearing shoes always, age of children (5 to 10 years) and not knowing causative agents of STH infections were found to be major determinants of STH Infections. Therefore; public health policymakers and stakeholders working in the area should focus their intervention against STH infections on integrated control programs including regular health education on children ’ s shoes wearing habits, raising awareness of school children and their families on STH infections and promoting private latrines in every household.