Setegn Abebaw, Wondmagegn Yenesew Mihret, Damtie Wassie Alemayehu, Abebe Wagaw, Geremew Gebremariam Wulie, Alemayehu Tekletsadik Tekleslassie, Wassie Yilkal Abebaw, Kibralew Getasew, Fentahun Setegn, Mengistie Berihun Agegn, Amare Gashaw Azanaw
Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Infect Dis. 2024 Dec 18;24(1):1420. doi: 10.1186/s12879-024-10309-z.
Hookworm infection is a common problem among schoolchildren and mothers in tropical and subtropical countries, causing cognitive impairment, growth retardation in children and anaemia, low birth weight, preterm birth, and intrauterine growth delay in susceptible mothers. Since schoolchildren generally have a higher prevalence due to behavioral and hygiene-related factors, our systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for Hookworm infection among schoolchildren in Ethiopia.
Relevant studies were retrieved from several search databases. The data were extracted via a standard data extraction format, and STATA version 11 was utilized for the analysis. Funnel plots and Egger's regression tests were used to evaluate publication bias, whereas the I test was used to determine heterogeneity. A random effects model meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled prevalence and associated factors of Hookworm infection among schoolchildren.
In this review, 48 studies with 43,285 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of Hookworm among schoolchildren was 13.01% (95% CI: 10.52, 15.51). Hookworm infection was significantly associated with the inability to use protective footwear (OR = 5.90, 95% CI: 2.86, 12.18) and the inability to use latrines (OR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.77, 5.23). Subgroup analysis by diagnostic methods revealed that the highest prevalence of Hookworm was found to be 28.50% (95% CI: 24.09, 32.91) using combinations of Kato-Katz, McMaster, and spontaneous tube sedimentation techniques.
Our study revealed that a significant prevalence of schoolchildren were affected by Hookworms, with substantial regional variations. This suggests that there is a need for better control measures such as improving hygiene, sanitation, and protective measures such as footwear. In addition, a combination of one or more diagnostic methods should be employed for better detection of parasites. This systematic review and meta-analysis have been registered in PROSPERO with reference number CRD42024558542.
钩虫感染是热带和亚热带国家学童及母亲中常见的问题，会导致认知障碍、儿童生长发育迟缓以及贫血，还会使易感母亲出现低出生体重、早产和宫内生长迟缓。由于行为和卫生相关因素，学童的感染率通常较高，因此我们的系统评价和荟萃分析旨在确定埃塞俄比亚学童钩虫感染的患病率及危险因素。
从多个检索数据库中检索相关研究。通过标准数据提取格式提取数据，并使用STATA 11版本进行分析。采用漏斗图和Egger回归检验评估发表偏倚，而I检验用于确定异质性。进行随机效应模型荟萃分析以确定学童钩虫感染的合并患病率及相关因素。
本评价纳入了48项研究，共43285名参与者。学童中钩虫的合并患病率为13.01%（95%置信区间：10.52，15.51）。钩虫感染与无法使用防护鞋（比值比=5.90，95%置信区间：2.86，12.18）和无法使用厕所（比值比=3.04，95%置信区间：1.77，5.23）显著相关。按诊断方法进行的亚组分析显示，使用改良加藤厚涂片法、麦克马斯特法和自然沉淀法联合检测时，钩虫的最高患病率为28.50%（95%置信区间：24.09，32.91）。
我们的研究表明，相当比例的学童受到钩虫影响，且存在显著的地区差异。这表明需要采取更好的控制措施，如改善卫生条件、环境卫生以及采取如穿鞋等防护措施。此外，应采用一种或多种诊断方法联合使用以更好地检测寄生虫。本系统评价和荟萃分析已在国际前瞻性系统评价注册库（PROSPERO）注册，注册号为CRD42024558542。
