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Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections remain highly prevalent among children in rural Ghana, with transmission significantly driven by non-school attendance, unsafe drinking water sources, and household animal rearing, indicating active reservoirs in shared human, animal, and soil environments. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

September 5, 2026PLoS neglected tropical diseasesOpen Access

Endemicity and environmental reservoirs of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections in Ghanaian rural communities

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Authors

RARita Nyaaba Akologo IWIsaac Williams DADennis Adu‐Gyasi

Discussion

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Overview

Cross-sectional study reveals high parasite prevalence and environmental reservoirs in rural children, highlighting the need for expanded community-wide interventions.

Key Points

To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors, and household environmental reservoirs of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections among children in rural Ghana.
Conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among children aged 2–15 years across four endemic communities in Banda District, Ghana.
Diagnosed human infections using urine sedimentation for Schistosoma haematobium ova and the Kato-Katz method for soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni.
Analyzed household soil and animal fecal samples using flotation and formalin-ether concentration techniques, with risk factors modeled via multivariate logistic regression.
Overall infection prevalence was 26.3% for schistosomiasis and 28.0% for soil-transmitted helminths among participating children.
Schistosomiasis was independently associated with non-school attendance (AOR = 4.59; 95% CI: 2.49–8.47; p < 0.001) and drinking from rivers or streams (AOR = 4.58; 95% CI: 1.73–12.10; p = 0.009).
Soil-transmitted helminth infection odds were elevated among children aged 2–9 years (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.24–3.85; p = 0.007), non-school attendees (AOR = 5.91; 95% CI: 3.41–10.24; p < 0.001), and households rearing domestic animals (AOR = 4.78; 95% CI: 2.32–9.86; p < 0.001), with parasite ova detected in 7.08% of soil and 10.67% of animal fecal samples.

Cite This Study

Akologo et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd49d6b95aff0620ec659 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014701

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September 5, 2026PLoS neglected tropical diseasesOpen Access

Endemicity and environmental reservoirs of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections in Ghanaian rural communities

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

RARita Nyaaba Akologo IWIsaac Williams DADennis Adu‐Gyasi

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cross-sectional study reveals high parasite prevalence and environmental reservoirs in rural children, highlighting the need for expanded community-wide interventions.

Key Points

To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors, and household environmental reservoirs of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections among children in rural Ghana.
Conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among children aged 2–15 years across four endemic communities in Banda District, Ghana.
Diagnosed human infections using urine sedimentation for Schistosoma haematobium ova and the Kato-Katz method for soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni.
Analyzed household soil and animal fecal samples using flotation and formalin-ether concentration techniques, with risk factors modeled via multivariate logistic regression.
Overall infection prevalence was 26.3% for schistosomiasis and 28.0% for soil-transmitted helminths among participating children.
Schistosomiasis was independently associated with non-school attendance (AOR = 4.59; 95% CI: 2.49–8.47; p < 0.001) and drinking from rivers or streams (AOR = 4.58; 95% CI: 1.73–12.10; p = 0.009).
Soil-transmitted helminth infection odds were elevated among children aged 2–9 years (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.24–3.85; p = 0.007), non-school attendees (AOR = 5.91; 95% CI: 3.41–10.24; p < 0.001), and households rearing domestic animals (AOR = 4.78; 95% CI: 2.32–9.86; p < 0.001), with parasite ova detected in 7.08% of soil and 10.67% of animal fecal samples.

Cite This Study

Akologo et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd49d6b95aff0620ec659 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0014701

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