Prevalence of, and knowledge about intestinal helminths among pregnant women at Adidome and Battor district Hospitals

BackgroundSoil Transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis may have implications for pregnancy outcomes especially, in rural communities. In Adidome (a rural community) and Battor (a semi-rural community), soil and water contact activities expose inhabitants to helminth infections. There is, however, limited information on the prevalence and determinants among pregnant women in these areas. The present study was conducted to access the prevalence, knowledge and perceptions about helminthiasis among pregnant women accessing obstetric care at Adidome Government Hospital and Battor Catholic Hospital in the Volta region of Ghana. Methodology/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional survey was conducted by recruiting 1,295 pregnant women out of which only 616 representing 47.5% provided stool samples for analysis. Sociodemographic characteristics and participant knowledge on helminth infection transmission, symptoms and prevention were collected by questionnaire and analyzed using STATA. Preserved stool specimen were processed and examined for helminth eggs by Kato Katz, and genomic DNA extracted from aliquots, was tested for S. mansoni and N. americanus. Prevalence of helminths and participant knowledge were expressed in proportions. Chi-square and Fishers exact test were used to show association at P < 0.05 significant level. Intestinal helminth infections found among participants at ANC were T. trichiura (0.4%), N. americanus (0.4%) and S. mansoni (0.4%). At delivery, a PCR prevalence of 5% was observed for S. mansoni. A high proportion of study participants, 82.5% in Adidome and 87.1% in Battor do not take dewormers on regular basis. Also, a high proportion of participants did not receive any dewormer prior to sample collection. Although knowledge on helminth transmission, risks and prevention were low, levels of prevalence of infection with helminths were also low. Conclusion/SignificanceIntensifying health education as community-based interventions is necessary for the total and effective control and elimination of schistosomiasis and STH in the study area. Author summaryAdidome and Battor are two communities sited close to the Volta Lake which is known to be infested with intermediate hosts for schistosomiasis. Consequently, there has been continued efforts towards control by mass deworming especially among pre-school and school-going children. Despite these control efforts, infections persist as older age groups including pregnant women are often left out of such programs. The fertile soil in the Volta basin encourages farming activities which further expose the people to soil transmitted helminths. There is therefore a need to evaluate community knowledge on helminth infection and precautions to be taken to improve on the control efforts in the areas. The study selected two district Hospitals (a private Hospital in Battor and a government Hospital in Adidome) as study sites. Stool samples collected from pregnant women reporting for the first antenatal care and for delivery were examined for the presence of helminths. Knowledge about helminths among participants were collated by questionnaire. Although prevalences of helminth infections were low, knowledge about helminth infections were also low. However, participants from Battor appear more knowledgeable about helminth infections than those in Adidome. Our study therefore suggests intensive public health education as an intervention for control.