03088nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653003800058653001500096653002800111653003900139653002300178653001800201100001300219700001100232700001700243700001300260700001700273700001500290700001900305700001400324700001400338700001100352700001300363700001500376245012100391856015300512520208300665022001402748       2024                            d  bElsevier BV10aSoil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs)10aOne Health10acontrol and elimination10aNeglected tropical diseases (NDTs)10aintegrated control10ahelminthiases1 aLapat JJ1 aOpee J1 aClara Apio M1 aAkello S1 aLakop Ojul C1 aOnekalit R1 aFrancis Oumo J1 aLalweny D1 aLatigo KJ1 aLebu S1 aOchola E1 aBongomin F00aA One Health approach towards the control and elimination of soil-transmitted helminthic infections in endemic areas  uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949915124000052/pdfft?md5=ea874ccf58ae551290f7f885c1256d95&pid=1-s2.0-S2949915124000052-main.pdf3 a<p>Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) pose significant health challenges, particularly in developing countries. Over two billion people are estimated to have been infected with at least one STH species. These parasites rely on the soil for part of their life cycle and are transmitted to humans through ova ingestion or skin penetration. Key risk factors include poor water, sanitation, hygiene practices, limited healthcare access, and poverty. Globally, STH are primarily controlled through chemo-preventive deworming of high-risk groups in moderate (where prevalence of STHs is between 20 – 50%) to highly endemic areas (prevalence greater than 50%). Despite the use of deworming to control the STHs in endemic areas, infections still occur. The aim of this article is to explore the potential for enhancing STH control and elimination as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in endemic areas through an integrated approach – the One Health approach. The current control program has a single strategy of chemoprophylaxis; in the integrated approach to control of STHs, the parasite control strategies besides being based on the epidemiology of the parasite (endemicity), also includes strategies based on the biology (transmission cycle) of the parasites and human behavior patterns in endemic areas. Through the involvement of local communities, healthcare authorities, and stakeholders, participatory approaches foster collaborative efforts to devise and implement control measures. By integrating this integrated approach into existing healthcare and educational initiatives, more effective results can be achieved. The promotion of health education, clean water access, improved sanitation, and hygiene awareness can further enhance control strategies and reduce STH prevalence sustainably. Here, we highlight the benefits of adopting an integrated (One Health) approach to tackle STHs in endemic areas. Through community empowerment and multi-sectorial collaboration, we can strengthen our collective efforts to combat STHs and alleviate the burden of these NTDs.</p>
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