Soil-transmitted helminths and their related factors in pre-school children in selected areas of Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kinondoni district from Mid- October 1992 to mid- January 1993. Kibamba and Kunduchi wards were randomly selected from a list of five wards which constitute the peri-urban portion of the district. The two wards are administratively divided into seven villages out of which five were randomly selected for the study. Due to constraints of funds this study was limited to the two mentioned wards only. The primary aim of the study was to determine the prevalence rates of infection with soil-transmitted helminths among pre-school children aged between 2 – 6 years and the possible impact of infection on their nutritional status. The study involved 508 pre-school children aged 2 – 6 years who had their anthropometric measurements taken for analysis of their nutritional status. The children were also stool examined for geohelminths. The study further involved a house to house inspection visit of 339 households selected for the study. The visits at household level aimed at taking anthropometric measurements on the children, collection of stool specimens, latrine inspection and to conduct interviews on adult respondents. In each household visited, one adult respondent was interviewed on the source of infection, mode of transmission, preventive and control measures against geohelminths. Using the Kato-katz modified thick-smear technique; the overall prevalence rate of hookworm was found to be 14% and was the most prevalent geohelminith in the district. The prevalence rate of the other geohelminths was 4.9% for Ascaris lumbricoides, 3% for Trichuris trichiura and 1% for strongyloides stercoralis. The study further revealed that, 204 (40.2%) of the children studied had poor nutritional status. In summary, this study established the following findings:

1. The problem of soil-transmitted helminths among pre-school children in the district is substantial while malnutrition is rampant.
2. There was a highly significant association between geohelminthiasis and malnutrition. However, since this was a cross-sectional study, it was not possible to establish the causal relationship.
3. The majority of the population in the district has a low level of perception on geohelminths.
4. Latrine coverage at household level is still quite unsatisfactory as 51 (15%) out of 339 households had no latrines while 38 (13.2%) households and latrines which were unfit for use.