Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40455295›Full record

ArticleParasitology research2025

A comparative analysis of the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections between preschool-aged children and school-going children in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Tafadzwa Mindu, Nathan Chanhanga, John Mogaka, Moses Chimbari

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Parasitology research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Tafadzwa MinduSchool of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa. mindutafadzwa@gmail.com.
Nathan ChanhangaSchool of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
John MogakaSchool of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Moses ChimbariSchool of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends conducting a baseline survey to quantify the infection burden of schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH) in pre-school aged children (PSAC) and school-aged children (SAC) before implementing a schistosomiasis mass drug administration intervention. The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections between preschool-aged children (PSAC) and school-age children (SAC) in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study was conducted in the province of KZN. The target population was PSAC and SAC, with a sample size of 2000 children (1176 primary school-aged children and 824 pre-school-aged children). Ethical clearance was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the University of KwaZulu-Natal; informed consent from parents/legal guardians and verbal assent from SAC were solicited. Data collection involved collecting stool and urine samples from children. The prevalence and intensity of infections were compared between PSAC and SAC, using statistical methods to assess differences. The results showed that 49 (4.2%) SAC were positive for Schistosoma haematobium, while only 3 (0.41%) PSAC were infected. The total number of STH infections among participants was 281 (22%), with 91 in PSAC and 190 in SAC. The chi-square test showed that SAC were infected with schistosomiasis more than PSAC counterparts in the same location. However, the difference in STH prevalence between PSAC and SAC was not statistically significant, suggesting that there was not much of a difference in the prevalence of STH among SAC and PSAC. Among the STH infections, Taenia was the most prevalent, affecting approximately 20.5% of SAC and 23.4% of PSAC. This species accounted for a substantial proportion of the overall STH burden in both age groups. The study concluded that while SAC has a higher overall prevalence, a real burden exists among PSAC indicating the need to include them in MDA programs targeting S. haematobium in the province.

Indexed as

HelminthiasisSchistosomiasisSoilAnimalsChildChild, PreschoolFecesFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceSchistosoma haematobiumSchoolsSouth AfricaUrineSoilPreschool-aged childrenPublic health policySchistosomiasisSchool-going childrenSoil-transmitted helminths

Identifiers

PMID40455295
PMCPMC12130080

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.