Current status of soil-transmitted helminths among school children in Kakamega County, Western Kenya
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Date
2016
Authors
Ngonjo, T.
Okoyo, C.
Andove, J.
Simiyu, E.
Agola, E.L.
Kabiru, Ephantus W.
Kihara, J.
Mwandawiro, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Abstract
School age children are at high risk of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) worldwide. In Kenya, STH infections in
children remain high despite the periodic administration of anthelmintic drugs. Our study assessed the prevalence and intensity of
STH in primary school-aged children inKakamega County,westernKenya. Methodology.We carried out a cross-sectional study on
a population of 731 children attending 7 primary schools in March 2014. Children aged 4–16 years were examined for STH by the
quantitative Kato-Katz technique. Infection intensities were expressed as eggs per gram(epg) of faeces. Findings. Among 731 school
children examined for STH, 44.05% were infected.Highest prevalence of STHwas in Shitaho primary school where 107 participants
were examined and 62.6% were infected with mean intensity of 11667 epg. Iyenga had the least prevalence where 101 participants
were examined and 26.7% were infected withmean intensity of 11772 epg. A. lumbricoides was the most prevalent STH species with
43.5% infected, while hookworm infections were low with 1.8% infected. Conclusion. Prevalence of STHs infections in Kakamega
County remains high.We recommend guidelines and other control strategies to be scaled up to break transmission cycles.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Citation
Journal of Parasitology Research Volume 2016, Article ID 7680124, 9 pages