@article{94724,
  keywords = {BMI, body mass index, CI, confidence interval, Cross-sectional survey, intestinal protozoa, malaria, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, Tanzania Abbreviations AIC, Akaike information criterion, DALYs, disability-adjusted life years, EKNZ, Ethics Committee of North-Western and Central Switzerland, EPG, eggs per gram, FEC, formalin ether concentration, HIV/AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Hb, haemoglobin, IEC, information, education and communication, IRS, indoor residual spraying, ITN, insecticide-treated bed net, MDA, mass drug administration, MUAC, Middle-upper arm circumference, NIMR, National Institute for Medical Research, NR, not reported, NTD, neglected tropical disease, OR, odds ratio, P.f., Plasmodium falciparum, P.v., Plasmodium vivax, POC-CCA, point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen, Pan, Plasmodium spp., RDT, rapid diagnostic test, SD, standard deviation, STH, Soil-transmitted helminth, WASH, water, sanitation and hygiene, WHO, World Health Organization, aOR, adjusted odds ratio},
  author = {Palmeirim M and Mrimi E and Minja E and Samson A and Keiser J},
  title = {A cross-sectional survey on parasitic infections in schoolchildren in a rural Tanzanian community.},
  abstract = {<p>Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death in children in low- and middle-income countries. Infection with helminths and intestinal protozoa cause considerable morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the health status of schoolchildren in nine villages of the Kilombero district. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and subjected 427 children aged 6-12 years to standardized diagnostic tests. We found that 15% of children were infected with Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar/Entamoeba moshkovskii, 12% with Schistosoma mansoni, and 5% with Plasmodium falciparum. The most common soil-transmitted helminth species was Trichuris trichiura (7%). Strongyloides stercoralis, Schistosoma haematobium, Giardia intestinalis and lymphatic filariasis were rare. Having a latrine inside the house was associated with a lower odds of parasite infections (odds ratio (OR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27-0.96, p = 0.04). Children from households with goats were at higher odds of E. histolytica/E. dispar/E. moshkovskii infection (OR 3.03, 95%CI 1.29-7.10, p = 0.01).When compared to a cross-sectional survey conducted in the same district in the 1980s, there seems to have been a substantial reduction in the prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections, except for T. trichiura, which showed a similar prevalence. Our data suggest that the general development, coupled with infectious disease control programmes improved children's health markedly. However, continued efforts to control parasitic diseases, including new approaches of drug combinations, stronger intersectoral collaboration, rigorous surveillance and public health responses tailored to the local settings are needed to move from control to elimination.</p>},
  year = {2020},
  journal = {Acta tropica},
  pages = {105737},
  month = {11/2020},
  issn = {1873-6254},
  doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105737},
  language = {eng},
}