Effect of Geohelminthiases on Absenteeism Among School-Age Children in Nairobi County, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of geohelminths on school attendance of children living in slums of Nairobi County, Kenya. A longitudinal study was carried out in children aged 6-18 years in classes 2-7 from schools within 2 slums in Nairobi County. Household socio-economic status questionnaires were administered to cater for potential confounders. Stools were collected and analyzed by modified Ridley and Kato-Katz Thick Stool Smear techniques. Infection intensity was as defined by World Health Organization criteria and 3 terms pre- and 2 terms post-treatment absenteeism records were collected for analysis. Collected data were coded and entered in the Microsoft Excel. Data was analyzed using Statistical Analysis Software, Version 9.4 M8 (2023) for descriptive statistics and Analysis of variance (ANOVA); t-test was used to detect significant differences in pre-treatment, post-treatment absenteeism. Correlation analysis was used to show associations between intensity of geohelminthiases and absenteeism. The highest prevalence occurred with Ascaris lumbricoides (37.4%) and Trichuris trichiura (33.2%). Highest number of light and moderate infections (16.5%) and (10.4%), respectively, occurred in 11-14 years age-group, pre-treatment. No Strongyloides stercoralis larvae were seen in stools. There was significant difference in infection intensities with T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides between males and females, p < 0.05, with females having higher infections. There was significant difference in absenteeism between the infected and non-infected, pre-treatment, p < 0.05. Geohelminthic infections significantly correlated with absenteeism, r = 0.7523. There was significant correlation between prevalence and absenteeism, pre-treatment (r = 0.971; p < 0.05). We concluded that geohelminthiases adversely affect school attendance of school-age children and treatment with albendazole was more effective with A. lumbricoides than T. trichura. We recommend that effective control of geohelminths required periodic, regular mass deworming with Albendazole (broad-spectrum athelminthics). In addition, stake holders need to be properly informed on the importance of maintaining proper environmental sanitation and effective health education campaign strategies for control of helmithiases among school age children.