Epidemiology of soil transmitted Helminth infections in the middle-belt of Ghana, Africa
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Date
2018-04-22
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Abstract
Background: Helminths are among the most widespread infectious agents prevalent in tropical
and sub-tropical regions of the developing world defined by inadequate sanitation, poverty and
unsafe water sources. This study was carried out to describe the distribution of helminth and
malaria parasite infections in the middle-belt of Ghana in sub-Saharan Africa where disease
burden, including anaemia is rife and helminths are perceived to be significant contributors
of the burden.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 1826 residents located in the middle belt of Ghana
where no or very little previous community-based helminth work had been carried out. The
participants randomly recruited at household level provided biological samples collected over
a 12-month period following a rigorous consenting process and these were analysed to describe
the different types and seasonal distribution of helminths.
Findings: Overall, 19.3% intestinal helminth infection prevalencewas documented. Also based
on parasites targeted for elimination, 12.1% Hookworm, 4.0% Hymenolepis nana/Hymenolepis
dimunita, 1.5% Ascaris lumbricoides, 1.5% Taenia species, 0.9% Strongyloides stercoralis and 0.8%
Trichuris trichiura, with about 1.0% polyphelminthiasis were recorded in the survey. About
55.4% and 44.4% of the participants had heavy hookworm and Trichuris infections respectively.
Most of the Ascariasis (83.3%) infections were light in intensity. Hookworm infection
was identified with significant odds considering decreasing age (OR = 2.09, p = 0.03), inappropriate
footwear use (OR = 1.88, p = 0.021), malaria parasite co-infection (OR = 1.62, p
= 0.018), not scrubbing nails during hand washing (OR = 0.68, p = 0.048), source of drinking
water (OR = 2.51, p = 0.027) and religion (OR = 4.36, p = 0.002).
Conclusions: Hookworm infection was significantly higher in younger age groups and among
those who did not have safe drinking water. Proper sanitation, protective footwear, religion
and good personal hygiene practices were found to influence helminth and hookworm prevalence in the area. Malaria parasite coinfection with helminths, especially hookworm infections
increased 2-fold.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Helminth, Malaria, Environmental and personal hygiene
Citation
D. Adu-Gyasi et al. / Parasite Epidemiology and Control 3 (2018) e00071