Prevalence and risk factors of soil transmitted helminths among vegetable farmers of Akaki river bank, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND

In Ethiopia, 79 million people live in soil transmitted helminths endemic areas. The Ethiopia established a National goal to eradicate STH transmission by 2025. To meet that goal, it is imperative that data is acquired on community helminth infection risk. This study examined the prevalence of STH and risk factors for infection in vegetable farmers working on Akaki River Bank, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 7, 2022, and June 2023. A stratified random sampling was used to select farming households. Two hundred and sixteen farmers were enrolled in the study. Data on socio-demographic, WASH, wastewater irrigation related factors were collected by trained data collectors using a structured questionnaire. Kato-Katz concentration was utilized to detect STH. The data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed with Stata 14.0, using p-values less than 0.05 to identify significant factors. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for infection.

RESULTS

The prevalence of STH was 22.2% (95% CI = 13.6-27.9%), with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most common (11.1%), followed by hookworm (7.4%), and Trichuris trichiura (3.7%). Low income levels (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.25-5.99), lack of handwashing before eating (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.58 - 11.3), absence of fingernails cleanliness (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.74-39.5), not wearing shoes at work (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI = 2.98-82.2), touching the face with dirty hands (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 0.68-28.2), washing vegetables with irrigation wastewater (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.95-45.2), and not wearing protective clothing during farming activities (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.58 - 22.4) were the significant risk factors for infection with STH.

CONCLUSION

Of the farming communities examined in this study, one of the five was found to be infected with soil transmitted helminth. This research has shown clear risk factors for STH infection including: lack of personal hygiene practices, insufficient sanitation access, and limited use of protective equipment. To achieve the national goal, there is a need for farming communities to understand preventative risks of infection, improve WASH (Water access, sanitation and hygine) practices, WASH access, protective equipment, and health education.