BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remain a major public health problem, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Though @entity281 are prevalent among all age groups, the world health organization (WHO) considers Pre-school age @entity1 (PSAC), school-aged @entity1 , and pregnant @entity1 as segments of population at high risk of STH morbidities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and @entity281 intensity of STH and associated factors among PSAC in Butajira Town, south-central Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2014 in Butajira Town. The PSAC were selected by systematic sampling technique and invited to participate in the present study. McMaster technique was employed for parasitological analysis of stool samples. Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were performed where appropriate to identify any association between STH @entity281 and independent factors. Multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify independent predictors of STH among the PSAC. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 377 (with 96% compliance rate) PSAC were able to provide complete data (socio-demographic information and stool sample). The study showed that 23.3% (88/377) PSAC were infected with one or more species of STH. @entity9124 was the most prevalent STH (14.9%) followed by @entity13857 (6.4%). The overall @entity281 intensity, expressed as geometric mean for A. lumbricoides, @entity13857 , and hookworms were 229, 178, and 154 eggs per gram of stool, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression model estimated that being in the age group of 36-47 months (AOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-5.3, P = 0.016), untrimmed finger nail (AOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8-5.5, P < 0.001), and not washing hands before a meal (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.7-5.4, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of STH @entity281 among the @entity1 . CONCLUSION: The present study showed that STH was a public health problem among PSAC in the study area necessitating annual deworming to control morbidities associated with STH. Besides, the existing health education program should also be strengthened to prevent @entity281 .

Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Associated Factors among Pre-School XXXX in Butajira Town, South-Central Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'children'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infection', 'infections', 're-infection'] @entity9124 :: ('6252', 'Species') :: ['Ascaris lumbricoides'] @entity13857 :: ('36087', 'Species') :: ['Trichuris trichiura', 'T. trichiura']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['Children']
