Helminth infections in light of an ongoing intervention in endemic areas of Guragae zone, Southern Ethiopia: an implication for neglected tropical diseases elimination in Ethiopia by 2020

INTRODUCTION: Helminth infections are among the major public health problems in developing countries. Considerable efforts have been made towards the control of morbidity caused by infection with helminths in Ethiopia. The national control program is designed to achieve the elimination of helminth infections as a major public health problem by 2020. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the current status and infection intensity of helminths in the endemic area of Guragae zone, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: An institutional based cross-sectional study was carried out between April and June 2017 in Gurage zone. School-aged children (SAC) were selected using a multistage sampling method and invited to participate in the study. Parasitological test examination was done using the Kato-Katz technique in Wolkite University parasitology laboratory. SPSS version 21 was used for data management and analysis. RESULTS: A total of 597 (98% compliance rate) participants were able to provide complete data. The study revealed that 21.6% (129/597) SAC were infected with one or more species of helminth. S. mansoni was the most prevalent helminth (12.9%) followed by hookworms (4.3%). The overall infection intensity expressed as geometric mean for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworms, and S. mansoni were 301, 31,103, and 158 eggs per gram of stool, respectively. The multivariable logistic regression model estimated that being in the age group of 5–9 years (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI 0.4–0.9), washing raw food and vegetables using river water (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI 0.16–0.75), and a regular bathing habit in river (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI 0.3–0.9) were independent predictors of helminth infections. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that Ethiopia planned to eliminate helminth infection-related morbidity by 2020, this study showed that helminth infection is prevalent in the study area. Efforts should be made to improve hygienic practices of the schoolchildren in addition to school-based deworming. Moreover, the deworming program should also focus on reaching those SAC who do not attend school through communal social places to achieve the targeted goal in the study area in particular and nationwide in general.