A school-based soil-transmitted helminths survey in the Guadalcanal Province, the Solomon Islands.

ABSTRACT

Infections by soil-transmitted helminths are a major public health problem worldwide, especially among schoolchildren in low-income countries. Little information is described about their prevalence in the Solomon Islands. From 2017 to 2018, a school-based soil-transmitted helminths survey in the Guadalcanal Province was conducted. A total of 454 schoolchildren were selected; the Merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde concentration and stain was used. The prevalence was 17% of one or more parasites, including hookworm (8.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (5.7%), Ascaris lumbricoides (4.2%) and Trichuris trichiura (3.5%). STH infection was significantly correlated with parents' occupations, hand washing, shoe wearing as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. To prevent STH transmission for schoolchildren in the Solomon Islands completely, combined preventive strategies seem necessary.