Objective: To establish the prevalence and associated risk factors of Schistosoma
mansoni (S. mansoni) infection among schoolchildren at a village in Wolaita Zone,
Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among primary schoolchildren. A total
of 384 randomly selected study subjects provided stool samples for parasitological examination
by Kato-Katz and Formalin-Ether concentration techniques. Secondary parasitological
data were obtained from Health Center Laboratory to see the previous history
of S. mansoni infection in the area. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software
version 16.
Results: From the total children examined, 85.4% were found positive for at least one
helminth infection. S. mansoni infection (81.3%) was the most prevalent and the prevalence
of STH was 32%. Moderate and heavy infection intensities were only observed in
S. mansoni infections. The overall heavy intensity of infection was 56.4%. Contact to
Bisare stream was the most important factor for S. mansoni infection (OR 3.9) followed
by herding cattle near the stream (OR 2.527). Males were twice more likely to get the
infection than females (OR 1.923). Analysis of secondary parasitological data showed
that S. mansoni infection was a leading helminthic infection over the past years.
Conclusions: The present study found a higher intensity and prevalence of S. mansoni
infection in a rural village of Wolaita Zone. Therefore, appropriate integrated control and
prevention measures need to be implemented in the study area.