Prevalence and risk factors associated with soil-transmitted helminth infections among school-age children in Hai District

Abstract Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, undernutrition, and anaemia are common and serious public health problems among school-age children in low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is limited information on the prevalence and factors associated with STH infections and their morbidities among Primary School children in Tanzania. The study was carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with STH infections and their morbidities among Primary School children in Hai District, Tanzania Methods: We used a cross-sectional design and collected data from 339 children aged 7-14 years using a structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, haemoglobin tests, and stool examinations. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between the outcomes and various socio-demographic and nutritional factors. Results: Theprevalence of STH infections was 1.2%, underweight was 9.1%, stunting was 19.5%, and anaemia was 2.4% among the children. The study also identified various socio-demographic and nutritional factors that were significantly or marginally associated with these outcomes. While age, locality (ward), and school were associated with stunting, number of meals taken per day, and presence of STH infections showed a trend towards significant difference with underweight; and the number of meals taken per day and presence of STH infections showed a trend towards significant difference with anaemia. The study also found that STH infections were significantly associated with underweight (OR = 3.39; p = 0.032) and marginally associated with anaemia (OR = 15.62; p = 0.091) among the children. Conclusions: STH infections, undernutrition, and anaemia are still prevalent among school-age children in Hai District. Age, locality (ward), and school were associated with stunting, while STH infections were significantly associated with underweight and marginally associated with anaemia among the children. The findings study suggest that preventive chemotherapy and iron supplementation programmes need to be strengthened and complemented by other interventions to address the multifactorial causes and consequences of these conditions among children. The study also provides evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders involved in STH control and child health promotion in Tanzania and other similar settings.