PREVALENCE, ASSOCIATED FACTORS AND TRENDS OF SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTHIC INFECTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTINATAL CARE AT NEKEMTE CITY PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES

ADVISOR(S): GELETA TEDELE (PhD, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR) Background: Soil-transmitted helminths are the most common parasites that infect humans and one of the most neglected tropical diseases. One of the most susceptible populations to a high risk of STH infection is pregnant women. This study aimed to determine the magnitude, associated factors and trends of STH infection among pregnant women attending ANC at Nekemte city public health facilities.<br> Methods: Cross-sectional and retrospective study design was conducted at Nekemte health facility. 339 pregnant women was selected by systematic random sampling techniques from march 1 to 30,2025 and 678 pregnant women was recorded from 2020-2024 for diagnosis of STH infection. Data were collected using a questionnaire and stool sample was collected from each participants and examined by keto katz techniques. Epidata 4.7 version was used for data entered and exported to SPSS 27 version for analysis. The associated factors was analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression and a P-value &lt; 0.05 is considered statistically significant.<br> Results: Out of 339 pregnant women participated in the study 79/339 (23.3%) was infected with STHs. 45/339 (13.3%) of the Pregnant women were more infected with hookworm and followed by Ascaris lumbriciodes 26/339(7.7%) and Hymenolepsis nana 8/339(2.4%). Residence, living rural [AOR = 2.026(1.106 – 3.709)], having habit of walking barefoot [AOR = 4.108 (2.183 - 7.730)] and soil eating [AOR = 3.017 (1.362-6.684)] were significantly associated with STH infection among pregnant women. Furthermore, the five year trend analysis indicated the prevalence of STHs was 21.5% among the study participants and the trend of STH infection decreased from 2020-2024.<br> Conclusion: The prevalence of STHs among pregnant women attended ANC at nekemte city public health facility was moderate. Residence, having habit of walking barefoot and soil eating during pregnancy was statistically significant. Therefore, improving environmental sanitation, hand washing berofe meal, establishing infrastructure( clean drinking water, and health facilities) in rural area and give health education for pregnant women during ANC visit are recomonded to minimize the prevalence of STH infection among pregnant women.<br> Key word: Prevalence, Associated factors, Trend, Pregnant women and Nekemte