ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2026
Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional status of school-age children, in Mekhoni town, Tigray, Ethiopia.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundSoil-transmitted helminths pose a significant public health challenge among school-age children in developing countries, such as Ethiopia. This study determined the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths, associated factors, and nutritional status of school-age children in Mekhoni town, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2025.
methodsA school-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 277 schoolchildren in Mekhoni town, Tigray, Ethiopia, from May 2024 to March 2025. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics of study participants, and stool samples were collected and processed using direct wet mount and Kato-Katz techniques. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and anthropometric indices were generated using the WHO AnthroPlus software to determine the nutritional status of schoolchildren. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27 software. Descriptive statistics were applied to present the data using frequency, tables, and figures. Bivariate logistic regressions were used to examine the correlation between the dependent variable and the individual independent variable, and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to determine the independent effect of the main explanatory variable on the outcomes of interest. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
resultsThe overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections was 16.2% (n = 45), with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most identified parasite, at 10.1% (n = 28), followed by Trichuris trichiura at 6.1% (n = 17), and hookworms, at 2.9% (n = 8). Of the infected children, 31 (18.7%) were males, and 14 (12.6%) were females. The number of infections is also higher among children within the age group of 5-10, 22 (18.4%), than among those 11-14 years old, 23 (14.65%). Factors significantly associated with increased odds of infection were having large family size (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.18-5.55, P = 0.017), unclean fingernails (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.14-6.03, P = 0.022), untrimmed fingernails (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.006-5.03, P = 0.002), and lack of hand washing after visiting a toilet (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.13-0.63, P = 0.002). The overall prevalence of undernutrition was 37.5% (n = 104), with 22.2% being underweight (n = 117), 27.8% stunted (n = 77), and 11.19% wasted (n = 31). There was no statistically significant association between STH infection and nutritional status among study subjects.
conclusionThe prevalence of STH infections was less than 20% (n = 45). The most common species of STH infections identified were Ascaris lumbricoides. The study also revealed a high prevalence of undernutrition among school-age children. Ensuring access to clean toilets and hand-washing facilities in the schools, introducing a school health and nutrition program are vital.
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