Trends in prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth and major intestinal protozoan infections among school-aged children in Nepal.
To assess the trends in prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia among school-aged children in Nepal between 1990 and 2015.



Systematic literature search in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar and local peer-reviewed journals for papers published between 1990 and December 2015. We conducted metaregression and meta-analyses to pool studies where applicable.



Thirty-nine studies that examined a total of 14 729 stool specimens were included in the meta-analyses. The metaregression of prevalence of hookworms, roundworm, and whipworm showed a significantly decreasing trend over time. In or after 2004, the pooled prevalence of hookworm infections was 1.53% (95% CI, 0.73-2.59), of roundworm 4.31% (95% CI, 2.52-6.53) and of whipworm 2.89% (95% CI, 1.33-4.97) vs. 16.54% (95% CI, 7.64-27.97) for hookworm, 25.20% (95% CI, 13.59-38.97) for roundworm and 11.54% (95% CI 4.25-21.76) for whipworm in 1993-2003. E. histolytica and G. lamblia had stable prevalence since early 1990s, with a pooled prevalences of 4.12% (95% CI, 2.73-5.77) and 9.40% (95% CI, 7.15-11.92), respectively. The prevalence of G. lamblia was significantly higher in urban areas.



We observed a sharp decrease in prevalence of STHs among school-aged children in Nepal in the past decade with prevalences dropping below 5% for STHs with no variation in prevalence in rural and urban areas. However, the prevalence of E. histolytica and G. lamblia remained stable over time. These results suggest that school-based deworming programmes rolled out during the study period had an observable impact on prevalence of STHs.
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia.
Ritu
R
Kunwar
Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Lokendra
L
Acharya
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia.
Surendra
S
Karki
D000723:Ancylostomatoidea; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica; D016829:Giardia lamblia; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006376:Helminths; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012987:Soil; D014258:Trichuris
D012987:Soil
Entamoeba histolytica; Giardia lamblia; Nepal; Népal; STH; prevalence; prevalencia; prévalence; soil-transmitted helminth; tendance; tendencias; trend