title: Intestinal schistosomiasis and geohelminths of Ukara Island, North-Western Tanzania: prevalence, intensity of infection and associated risk factors among school children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are among the most prevalent and highly neglected tropical diseases in Tanzania. However, little is known on the distribution of these infections in rural settings, especially in the island areas on Lake Victoria. Identifying the local risk factors of S. mansoni and soil-transmitted helminths is one step towards understanding their transmission patterns and will facilitate the design of cost-effective intervention measures. The present study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence, intensity of infection and risk factors associated with S. mansoni and soil-transmitted helminth infections among school children in Ukara Island.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross sectional study which enrolled 774 school children aged 4-15 years in 5 primary schools in Ukara Island, North-Western Tanzania. Single stool samples were collected, processed using the Kato Katz technique and examined for eggs of S. mansoni and geohelminths under a light microscope. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 494/773 (63.91%, 95% CI; 45.19-90.36) of the study participants were infected with S. mansoni and the overall geometrical mean eggs per gram (GM-epg) of feaces were 323.41epg (95% CI: 281.09-372.11). The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) was 6.73% (n = 52/773, 95% CI = 4.39-10.32) with the most prevalent species being hookworms, 5.69% (n = 44/773, 95% CI; 3.68-8.79). Location of school in the study villages (P < 0.0001), parent occupation, fishing (P < 0.03) and reported involvement in fishing activities (P < 0.048) remained significantly associated with the prevalence and intensity of S.mansoni infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Schistosoma mansoni infection is highly prevalent in the islands whereas the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths is low. The risk of infection with S. mansoni and the intensity of infection increased along the shorelines of Lake Victoria. These findings call for the need to urgently implement integrated control interventions, starting with targeted mass drug administration.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania. mugonomoshi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Moshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mugono
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania. ekonje@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konje
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. susan.Kuhn@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania. filbertmp@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Filbert J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Mpogoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania. dmorona@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morona
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Mwanza, Tanzania. humphreymazigo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Humphrey D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Mazigo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012574:Schools; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil