04056nas a2200349 4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653005700079653004900136653002100185653000900206653001700215100001300232700001800245700001300263700001300276700001500289700001300304700001300317700001700330700001600347700001300363700001700376700001300393700001500406245019000421856026000611300001300871490000700884520280100891022001403692 2020 d bPublic Library of Science (PLoS) 10 aGeneral Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 10 aGeneral Agricultural and Biological Sciences 10 aGeneral Medicine 10 aWASH 10 aHand washing 1 aMakata K 1 aKinung’hi S 1 aHansen C 1 aAyieko P 1 aSichalwe S 1 aMcharo O 1 aEnsink J 1 aDreibelbis R 1 aRockowitz S 1 aOkello E 1 aGrosskurth H 1 aKapiga S 1 aChenette E 00 aHand hygiene intervention to optimize helminth infection control: Design and baseline results of Mikono Safi–An ongoing school-based cluster-randomised controlled trial in NW Tanzania uhttps://storage.googleapis.com/plos-corpus-prod/10.1371/journal.pone.0242240/1/pone.0242240.pdf?X-Goog-Algorithm=GOOG4-RSA-SHA256&X-Goog-Credential=wombat-sa%40plos-prod.iam.gserviceaccount.com%2F20201215%2Fauto%2Fstorage%2Fgoog4_request&X-Goog-Date=20201 ae0242240 0 v15 3 a
Introduction
Soil transmitted helminths (STH) can affect over 50% of children in some parts of Tanzania. Control measures involve annual deworming campaigns in schools, but re-infection is rapid. This paper presents the design and baseline survey results of an ongoing school-based cluster-randomised controlled trial in Kagera region, NW Tanzania. The trial aims to determine whether the effect of routine deworming on the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infections among school aged children can be sustained when combined with a behaviour change intervention promoting handwashing with water and soap.
Methods
As part of the trial, a total of 16 schools were randomised to receive the intervention (N = 8) or as controls (N = 8). Randomisation was stratified per district and restricted to ensure pre-trial STH prevalence was balanced between study arms. The combination intervention to be tested comprises class-room based teacher-led health education, improvement of handwash stations, coloured nudges to facilitate handwashing and parental engagement sessions. The impact evaluation involves two cross-sectional surveys conducted at baseline and endline. The objectives of the baseline survey were: (i) to confirm whether the deworming campaign was successful, and identify and treat students still infected about 2 weeks after deworming, (ii) to document any baseline differences in STH prevalence between trial arms, and (iii) to assess handwashing behaviours, and access to water and sanitation at school and home. We randomly sampled 35 students per class in Grades 1–6 (an average of 200 children per school), stratified to ensure equal representation between genders. Assenting students were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and asked to provide a stool specimen.
Results
Results of the baseline survey conducted about 2 weeks after deworming shows balanced demographic and STH prevalence data across trial arms. We observed a low prevalence of ascariasis (< 5%) as expected; however, the prevalence of trichuriasis was still about 35% in both arms.
Conclusion
The randomisation procedure was successful in achieving a balanced distribution of demographic characteristics and helminth infections between trial arms. The intervention is being rolled out. The current deworming treatment regimen may need to be revised with regards to the treatment of trichuriasis.
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