02395nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001700054653001500071653003400086653002400120653003100144100001700175700001100192700001800203245013000221856007300351520175100424022001402175       2022                            d  c10/202210aPCT coverage10aPCT uptake10aPreventive chemotherapy (PCT)10aschool-age children10aSoil-transmitted helminths1 aOuédraogo J1 aAnto F1 aAddo-Lartey A00aFactors determining preventive chemotherapy uptake against soil-transmitted helminthiasis among school-age children in Ghana.  uhttps://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00436-022-07691-5.pdf3 a<p>By 2020, the World Health Organization and the Ghana Neglected Tropical Diseases programme intended to treat 75% and 100% of school-age children, respectively, during preventative chemotherapy (PCT), to control soil-transmitted helminths. The performance of PCT was assessed, and the factors associated with albendazole uptake in 2019 were determined. This study comprised secondary data (2019 PCT) and a community-based cross-sectional study conducted among 352 children aged from 7 to 14&nbsp;years and enrolled with their caregivers. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors hindering or favouring the PCT uptake. According to surveillance data (2019 PCT), Krachi East Municipal reported coverage of 83% in schools and 40.9% for all children between 5 and 14&nbsp;years. The cross-sectional data showed that the median child age was 11&nbsp;years (IQR: 9-12). There was no gap in the estimates for coverage and uptake, which were both 90.9% (95%CI: 87.4-93.5%). Christians made up the majority of the caregivers (87.5%), and 48.0% had completed secondary or higher education. After controlling for potential confounders, caregiver religion (aOR = 0.07 95%CI: 0.01-0.36) and the perception of a child's PCT risk (aOR = 0.33 95%CI: 0.13-0.84) were the significant barriers of PCT uptake, whereas the child's age (aOR = 1.49 95%CI: 1.19-1.88) and the perception of a child's PCT's benefit (aOR = 10.26 95%CI: 2.57-40.95) were the significant facilitators among children 7-14&nbsp;years old. Although the performance of PCT was high, the national treatment target was not attained. Intensive and focused health education is therefore needed to improve positive perceptions towards PCT for school-age children.</p>
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