Abstract:

Background: Geohelminths are recognized as a major public health problem. (2) In most countries where geohelminths are endemic, school-age children experience the highest prevalence and intensity of infection; particularly with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. Globally about 1.45 billion people are affected by STHs infection. In Tanzania.

Methods: A descriptive cross sectional quantitative study was used to assess knowledge and practices concerning the transmission and prevention of geohelminths among primary school students. Interviewer administered questionnaire were used to collect data. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and was exported to SPSS version 20.0 for further analysis.

Results: The majority of students reported to have heard about STH. The main source of STH information being mass media and school. Earthworm was considered by majorities of students to be a STH, while the only few of students identified hookworm as STH. Also majority of students knew about STHs, ways of transmission sign and symptoms together with preventive practices.

However about two third of students reported to have been infected by STH at least once in their life time, despite reporting the good preventive practices against STHs. This might be due to a discrepancy between reported and actual practices. Also Mass Drug Administration Program has been improved to be an active ongoing process.

Conclusion: Results from this study that to a large extent primary school students are aware of STH. However there is still a gap on their precise knowledge as most of students do not know the names of STHs and also they confuse between symptoms and disease caused by STHs.