PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTH PARASITE INFECTIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS AMONG STUDENTS IN METI PRIMARY SCHOOL, AMBO DISTRIC

Soil- transmitted helminth parasite infections constitute major public health challenges among school children in developing tropical and sub-tropical countries. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with soil transmitted helminth parasite infections among school children in Meti Primary School of Oromiya Region, Ethiopia. The study was school based cross sectional survey, involving 408 participants (203 males and 205 females, age ranging from 7-18 years). Structured pre-tested questionnaires were administered to gather relevant information on demographic data of the school children. Stool samples were processed for microscopic examinations using direct wet mount and formol ether concentration method. Weight and height were taken to assess body mass index (BMI) of each study participant. The Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and anthropometry calculating software (Anthroplus). The NCHS growth chart reference was used to estimate the prevalence of underweight/thinness and stuntedness among study participants in the 7-10 11-14 and 15-18 years age group. The overall prevalence of soil- transmitted helminth parasite infections was 10.3 % (10.3% for males and 10.2% for females). Multiple infections with three soil-transmitted helminthes parasites were found in 1.2 % (5/408) of the sample participants. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichiuris trichiura and hookworm infections were 6.7%, 2.2%, and 1.2%, respectively. The prevalence of soiltransmitted helminth infections was significantly associated (p= 0.007) with washing hands after defecation. Most of the socio-demographic factors, (family size, parents’ occupation, parent educational level, and personal hygiene, source of water and its handling, shoes wearing and residence) were not significantly associated with soil-transmitted helminth infections. The percentage of anthropometric indices of study participants among 7-10 years age group was 38.9%, 4.9%, and 42.9% for underweight, stunting, and wasting, respectively while the percentage of underweight/thinness in the 11-18 years age group was 39.1%. The present study did not find any statistically significant association on the soil-transmitted helminth infections with malnutrition. Coordinated work with health officers and school community is required on the investigation of STH parasite infection.