{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,18]],"date-time":"2026-10-18T23:01:48Z","timestamp":1792364508410,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,29]],"date-time":"2026-01-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769644800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,29]],"date-time":"2026-01-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769644800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Public Health Challenges"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) pose a significant public health burden in developing regions, disproportionately affecting children. This study investigated the prevalence, determinants, and co\u2010occurrence patterns of IPIs among schoolchildren in rural Krachi East Municipality, Oti Region, Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methodology<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross\u2010sectional study (March\u2013August 2024) enrolled 204 schoolchildren (aged 4\u201315 years) via simple random sampling. Sociodemographic and risk factor data were collected, using standardized questionnaires. Single fresh stool specimens were microscopically examined using direct wet mount, sedimentation, and Kato\u2013Katz techniques. Data were analyzed with STATA version 18.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Overall IPI prevalence was 63.23% (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a0129), with monoparasitism at 33.3% (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0=\u00a068). Key parasites included\n                      <jats:italic>Ascaris lumbricoides<\/jats:italic>\n                      (57.4%), Hookworm (38.7%), and\n                      <jats:italic>Giardia duodenalis<\/jats:italic>\n                      (21.6%),\n                      <jats:italic>Entamoeba dispar\/histolytica<\/jats:italic>\n                      (14.2%), and\n                      <jats:italic>Trichuris trichiura<\/jats:italic>\n                      (11.3%). Polyparasitism was common, with protozoan\u2013helminth (19.38%) and helminth\u2013helminth (27.13%) co\u2010infections.\n                      <jats:italic>A. lumbricoides<\/jats:italic>\n                      and Hookworm were predominant in co\u2010infections. Home\u2010cooked meals and awareness of IPIs reduced the odds of infection. Conversely, Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit (KVIP) and pit latrines at school paradoxically increased\n                      <jats:italic>G. duodenalis<\/jats:italic>\n                      infection risk, whereas fingernail\u2010biting showed a counterintuitive protective association against\n                      <jats:italic>G. duodenalis<\/jats:italic>\n                      infections.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A high IPI burden, including significant polyparasitism, exists among the schoolchildren in the study area. The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated deworming programs, improved sanitation, and targeted health education to reduce morbidity in this vulnerable population, directly contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well\u2010being) by addressing preventable diseases and promoting health, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by improving the health and educational outcomes of schoolchildren.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/puh2.70176","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,29]],"date-time":"2026-01-29T14:51:46Z","timestamp":1769698306000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Factors Among Rural Ghanaian School Children: A Cross\u2010Sectional Study in Tokuroano, Krachi East Municipality"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-9237-761X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christopher Yaw","family":"Dumevi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physician Assistantship Studies School of Medical Sciences Central University  Accra Ghana"},{"name":"Department of Medical Microbiology University of Ghana Medical School  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Prince Wise","family":"Amekudi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physician Assistantship Studies School of Medical Sciences Central University  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nana Aba Setorwu","family":"Eyeson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Microbiology University of Ghana Medical School  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hugette Naa Ayele","family":"Aryee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health School of Medical Sciences Central University  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-6033-4545","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joyce Junior","family":"Asiamah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health School of Medical Sciences Central University  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1232-4921","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ezekiel Kofi","family":"Vicar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Microbiology School of Medicine University for Development Studies  Tamale Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1535-937X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"James\u2010Paul","family":"Kretchy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health School of Medical Sciences Central University  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simon","family":"Sovoe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Research Technology and Innovation Environmental Protection Authority  Accra Ghana"},{"name":"Department of Community Health Ensign Global University  Akosombo Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4347-0892","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Saviour Kweku","family":"Adjenti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physician Assistantship Studies School of Medical Sciences Central University  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4491-6902","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nicholas T. 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