02139nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653005700079653002400136100001200160700001600172700002400188700001700212700001800229700001200247700001400259700001400273700001400287700001700301245011500318856009900433300001300532490000700545520129500552022001401847       2020                            d  bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aInfectious Diseases1 aMidzi N1 aMontresor A1 aMutsaka-Makuvaza MJ1 aFronterrè C1 aManangazira P1 aPhiri I1 aJohnson O1 aMhlanga G1 aDiggle PJ1 aSantiago HDC00aElimination of STH morbidity in Zimbabwe: Results of 6 years of deworming intervention for school-age children  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0008739&type=printable  ae00087390 v143 aThis paper reports the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections measured in Zimbabwe before and after a control intervention based on annual deworming of school-age children (SAC) conducted from 2012 to 2018.

In 2010, epidemiological data were collected from 13 195 SAC in 255 randomly selected schools in all districts nationwide using, as diagnostic methods, the Kato–Katz and the formal ether stool concentration technique. At follow up, conducted in 2017, only Kato–Katz was performed; specimens were collected from 13 352 children in 336 schools. The data were evaluated using a geospatial approach. The national prevalence of STH infection in SAC was estimated at 5.8% at baseline, with 0.8% of infections of moderate and heavy intensity. Preventive chemotherapy (PC) targeted all 2.5 million children of school age enrolled in Zimbabwe, with coverage ranging from 49% to 85%. At follow up, national prevalence of STH in SAC was estimated at 0.8%; infections of moderate and heavy intensity almost disappeared (0.1% prevalence). As a result, Zimbabwe can suspend deworming activities in 54 districts and reduce the frequency of PC in the remaining six districts. The total amount of albendazole tablets needed will be approximately 100 000 a year.  a1935-2735