Abstract:

Background: Soil transmitted helminths infections these are parasitic infection caused by intestinal nematode affecting largely tropical regions, Tanzania being among them it is highly affected. About 2 billion people harbor intestinal parasitic infections worldwide, of which about 300 million suffer associated severe morbidity annually.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of anti-helminth drugs and factors associated with Soil-transmitted helminthes infections among pregnant women who used anti-helminth drugs in Magu district, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Magu District Hospital, Mwanza, Tanzania between April and July 2024, a well-structured questionnaire was used and stool sample was taken for analysis using formol ether concentration technique for detection of eggs and larvae and lastly data collected was analyzed by using STATA Version 15.0.

Results: This study involved 153 participants, with prevalence of 8.49% at which majority of participants suffered from Hookworm infections with 07/153 (4.58%), followed by A. lumbricoides infection with 04/153 (2.61%) then S. stercoralis infection with 01/153 (0.65%) and co infection of A. lumbricoides and hookworm infections with 01/153 (0.65%).Also by using chi square relationship between associated risk factors and laboratory results were found those with p value less or equal to 0.05 were termed as statistically significant. In this study participant having history of eating soil (p=0.006), bare footed (p =0.001), toilet cleaning (p=0.001) and water boiling (p=0.001) were statistically significant milestone of the study in associating with Soil transmitted infections. These associated factors have helped to trace easily why re-infection occurs.

Conclusion: In this study we report effectiveness of anti-helminth drugs for STH infections among pregnant, though still alarming this group is still at risk of re infection even after taking the anti-helminth drugs since after being medicated returns to their normal activities. The associated risk factor, associated with STH infections still play a role in keeping the individuals infected when exposed to them.