Prevalence and risk factors of geohelminths in primary schools children aged 5 to 15 years in the city of Moundou, southwestern Chad

Abstract

Geohelminthiases are endemic in Chad and constitute a serious public health problem. This study aimed at determing the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal geohelminthiasis in children aged 5–15 years in the city of Moundou, Chad. This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out in the city of Moundou. A total of 333 pupils participated in this study and it included children aged from 5 to 15 years attending three public primary schools in Moundou. A questionnaire was administered to each student after obtaining Informed Consent from either parent. Stool samples were collected in a sterile container and, the formalin-ethyl ether concentration technique was used to identify parasite. Parasitic load was assessed using the Mc Master cell method. The collected data were analyzed using Excel; Word 2016 and SPSS 20 software. An overall prevalence of 16.52% was obtained, 9.3% for Trichuris trichiura, 6.9% for Ascaris lumbricoides, and 1.2% for Hookworms. Male participants were more infected (67.24%) than females (32.76%). The age group]9–13] was the most infected (53.44%), followed by the age group [5–9](44.83%) and finally the age group]13–15] (1.73%). The Ouhoud school was the most infected (55.17%) followed by the Adoum Dallah school (39.66%) and finally the Centre school (5.17%). However, no statistically significant difference between gender and geohelminthiasis infection was recorded (p > 0.05). Regarding risk factors, statistical analysis showed that age group]9–13] (OR = 1.997 at 95% CI at [1.085–3.677]), Central Public School (OR = 1.55 at 95% CI at [0.63–2.46]), tap water (OR = 29 at 95% CI at [20.89–38.70]), not maintaining latrines (OR = 2.37 at 95% CI at [0.62–3.78]), and maintenance of latrines by pupils (OR = 1.5 at 95% CI at [0.63–2.46]) were risk factors. This study shows a high prevalence of geohelmenthiasis among children of three primary schools in Moundou, Chad. Although males were more infected than female there was no significant difference between gender and geohelminth infections (p = 0.114). was no gender difference. Identified risk factors of geohelmenthiasis infections among the study population were: age between 9 and 13 years, school water consumption, the use of unmaintained latrines and latrines maintained by students. Surveillance of geohelminthiases and hygiene should be intensified to reduce the pathological risk related to these parasites in Chad.