Health Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 7;9(6):e72609. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.72609. eCollection 2026 Jun.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remain a significant public health challenge across Ethiopia, including the Tigray region, where school-age children (SAC) are particularly vulnerable. The La’elay Maichew district, characterized by rural agrarian and irrigated settings and the 2020-2022 armed conflict, may experience heightened transmission of IPIs. This study aimed to assess the status of IPIs and associated risk factors among school students in La’elay Maichew district, Tigray Region, Ethiopia.
METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2024, involving 190 school students aged 7-21 years. Data were collected via structured questionnaires, and stool samples were processed using the Kato-Katz technique.
RESULTS: This study found an overall prevalence of IPIs of 3.2% (6/190) among school students [95% CI: 1.2-6.9], with Enterobius vermicularis (1.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.1%), and Taenia saginata (0.5%) identified as the primary species. Those children aged 15-21 years and grades 9-12 showed higher infection rates (7.6% and 9.3%, respectively), though multivariate analysis revealed no significant associations. Behavioral risk factors, including poor handwashing (76.3% before/after meals, 82.1% after toilet use), lack of toilet use (75.8%), and barefoot walking (80.5%), were prevalent but not statistically linked to infection status.
CONCLUSION: The low prevalence observed in this study may reflect the sustained impact of previous mass drug administration (MDA) programs in the study area. It could also result from post-conflict population displacement, changes in school attendance patterns, or methodological limitations, particularly the use of a single Kato-Katz thick smear, which has lower sensitivity for detecting light-intensity infections. Persistent poor hygiene practices highlight the need for integrated interventions that combine deworming with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education to sustain low infection rates and prevent resurgence in the study area.
PMID:42261559 | PMC:PMC13242696 | DOI:10.1002/hsr2.72609
