{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T05:16:51Z","timestamp":1788499011121,"version":"build-2803163510"},"update-to":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013310","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,31]],"date-time":"2025-07-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753920000000}}],"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,23]],"date-time":"2025-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753228800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Children Without Worms","award":["N\/A"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N\/A"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosntds.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS Negl Trop Dis"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are widespread in Tanzania mainland, affecting all 184 districts. The Ministry of Health, through the National Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program (NTDCP) has addressed these parasitic infections by administering annual preventive chemotherapy (PC) with praziquantel for schistosomiasis and albendazole for STH. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, infection intensity, and associated factors of schistosomiasis and STH among school-aged children (SAC) in five selected district councils of Tanzania after a minimum of five rounds of PC.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methodology\/Findings<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A cross-sectional survey was carried out in five district\/town councils; Iringa District Council (DC), Nanyamba Town Council (TC), Ruangwa DC, Tanganyika DC, and Kalambo DC. We randomly selected 15 wards within each DC\/TC and then chose one primary school from each ward, totaling 15 schools per district. From each school 30 children (15 boys and 15 girls) aged 10\u201314 years were sampled, totaling 2250 participants. Urine samples were analyzed using filtration methods to detect schistosomiasis, while stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz method. Demographic, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) data were also collected through standardized questionnaires. The prevalence of any STH infection varied across the councils, with the lowest prevalence in Iringa DC (0.7%) and highest prevalence in Tanganyika DC (7.1%). For schistosomiasis, the overall prevalence of any schistosome infection was 9.3%. Nanyamba TC reported the highest prevalence at 21.8%, while Iringa DC recorded the lowest at 2.0%.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The study indicates that STH prevalence remains relatively low (&lt; 10%) in the majority of surveyed districts, however four out of five surveyed districts require distribution of PC once per two years for five years. For schistosomiasis, all district had at least one ward that require annual distribution of PC for the entire population (aged \u22652 years) for 5 years.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013310","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,23]],"date-time":"2025-07-23T17:45:18Z","timestamp":1753292718000},"page":"e0013310","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Prevalence, intensity, and associated factors of soil-transmitted helminth and schistosome infections after multiple rounds of preventive chemotherapy among schoolchildren in five selected district councils in Tanzania"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Clarer","family":"Jones","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohamed","family":"Nyati","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdallah","family":"Zacharia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephen Gabriel","family":"Mbwambo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-7661-1566","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Huda","family":"Omary","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Billy","family":"Ngasala","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,23]]},"reference":[{"issue":"7","key":"pntd.0013310.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(06)70521-7","article-title":"Schistosomiasis and water resources development: systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimates of people at risk","volume":"6","author":"P Steinmann","year":"2006","journal-title":"Lancet Infect Dis"},{"issue":"8","key":"pntd.0013310.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0000412","article-title":"Neglected tropical diseases in sub-saharan Africa: review of their prevalence, distribution, and disease burden","volume":"3","author":"PJ Hotez","year":"2009","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013310.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1186\/s40249-017-0300-8","article-title":"Putting the treatment of paediatric schistosomiasis into context","volume":"6","author":"T Mduluza","year":"2017","journal-title":"Infect Dis Poverty"},{"issue":"2","key":"pntd.0013310.ref004","article-title":"Paediatric schistosomiasis: What we know and what we need to know","volume":"12","author":"DNM Osakunor","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-5-274","article-title":"Epidemiology and control of human schistosomiasis in Tanzania","volume":"5","author":"HD Mazigo","year":"2012","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"issue":"5","key":"pntd.0013310.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"497","DOI":"10.1016\/S0035-9203(99)90349-8","article-title":"Patterns of concurrent hookworm infection and schistosomiasis in schoolchildren in Tanzania","volume":"93","author":"NJ Lwambo","year":"1999","journal-title":"Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013310.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ejcn.1600890","article-title":"Age patterns in stunting and anaemia in African schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study in Tanzania","volume":"54","author":"NJ Lwambo","year":"2000","journal-title":"Eur J Clin Nutr"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"612","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-014-0612-5","article-title":"Intestinal schistosomiasis and geohelminths of Ukara Island, North-Western Tanzania: prevalence, intensity of infection and associated risk factors among school children","volume":"7","author":"M Mugono","year":"2014","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref009","volume-title":"Schistosomiasis progress report 2001\u20132011 and strategic plan 2012\u20132020","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2010"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref010","volume-title":"Preventive chemotherapy in human helminthiasis. Coordinated use of anthelminthic drugs in control interventions: a manual for health professionals and programme managers","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2006"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref011","first-page":"75","volume-title":"Preventive chemotherapy to control soil-transmitted helminth infections in at-risk population groups: guideline","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2017"},{"issue":"5","key":"pntd.0013310.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"525","DOI":"10.3347\/kjp.2015.53.5.525","article-title":"Prevalence of Schistosomes and Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Morbidity Associated with Schistosomiasis among Adult Population in Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania","volume":"53","author":"JE Siza","year":"2015","journal-title":"Korean J Parasitol"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref013","first-page":"142","volume-title":"Guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2022"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref014","first-page":"196","volume-title":"Ending the neglect to attain the sustainable development goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021\u20132030","author":"WHO","year":"2020"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref015","volume-title":"Guide for mapping neglected tropical diseases targeted by preventive chemotherapy in the African Region","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2014"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013310.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-019-3689-z","article-title":"Epidemiological findings and policy implications from the nationwide schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis survey in Sudan","volume":"12","author":"S Cha","year":"2019","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref017","unstructured":"WHO. Assessing schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases control programmes Monitoring and evaluation framework (draft) [Internet]. 2024. Available from: https:\/\/espen.afro.who.int\/system\/files\/content\/resources\/M%26E_Framework_STH_SCH_draft.pdf"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref018","volume-title":"Strategic master plan for the neglected tropical diseases control program Tanzania Mainland","author":"Tanzania Ministry of Health","year":"2021"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref019","unstructured":"Tanzania Ministry of Health. Report on urinary schistosomiasis, national questionnare baseline survey in Tanzania mainland 2010. 2010."},{"issue":"6","key":"pntd.0013310.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1810","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.17-0368","article-title":"Defining Persistent Hotspots: Areas That Fail to Decrease Meaningfully in Prevalence after Multiple Years of Mass Drug Administration with Praziquantel for Control of Schistosomiasis","volume":"97","author":"N Kittur","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"401","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2007.08.001","article-title":"Bayesian spatial analysis of a national urinary schistosomiasis questionnaire to assist geographic targeting of schistosomiasis control in Tanzania, East Africa","volume":"38","author":"ACA Clements","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int J Parasitol"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref022","unstructured":"WHO. Bench Aids for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites."},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref023","unstructured":"NTDCP. Schistosomiasis. 2015. [cited 2025 May 28]. Available from: https:\/\/www.ntdcp.go.tz\/diseases\/sch"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref024","unstructured":"NTDCP. Baseline prevalence mapping and intensity of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths among school aged children at sentinel sites to inform a national control strategy in selected districts of north-western Tanzania. 2021."},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref025","unstructured":"NTDCP. Precision Mapping of Schistosomiasis in 53 Implementation Districts of Mainland Tanzania Implementation Report. 2022."},{"issue":"7","key":"pntd.0013310.ref026","first-page":"1","article-title":"Strategic master plan for the neglected tropical diseases control program July 2021-June 2026 Tanzania Mainland","author":"Tanzania Ministry of Health","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ministry of Health Community Development Gender, Elder Child [Internet]"},{"issue":"11","key":"pntd.0013310.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009083","article-title":"Gender-related differences in prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors of Schistosoma infections in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"15","author":"DV Ayabina","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013310.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"779","DOI":"10.1186\/s13104-018-3871-y","article-title":"Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among school children in Um-Asher Area, Khartoum, Sudan","volume":"11","author":"K Hajissa","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Res Notes"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref029","article-title":"Prevalence and predictors associated to Schistosoma mansoni infection among patients attending the Saint Jean de Malte Hospital, Njombe, Littoral Region, Cameroon","volume":"2023","author":"AF Ngwa","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Parasitol Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013310.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-017-2284-4","article-title":"Prevalence and seasonal transmission of Schistosoma haematobium infection among school-aged children in Kaedi town, southern Mauritania","volume":"10","author":"NGC Gbal\u00e9gba","year":"2017","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"issue":"4","key":"pntd.0013310.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed2040061","article-title":"Biosocial Determinants of Persistent Schistosomiasis among Schoolchildren in Tanzania despite Repeated Treatment","volume":"2","author":"RE Donohue","year":"2017","journal-title":"Trop Med Infect Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0013310.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2334-11-198","article-title":"The contribution of water contact behavior to the high Schistosoma mansoni Infection rates observed in the Senegal River Basin","volume":"11","author":"S Sow","year":"2011","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"issue":"2","key":"pntd.0013310.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjid.2014.11.004","article-title":"Impact of human schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa","volume":"19","author":"AF Adenowo","year":"2015","journal-title":"Braz J Infect Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013310.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"422","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-024-06466-4","article-title":"Potential associations between Schistosoma mansoni infection and physico-chemical characteristics and water-related human activities in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire: a cross-sectional study","volume":"17","author":"J-BK S\u00e9kr\u00e9","year":"2024","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"issue":"2","key":"pntd.0013310.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1080\/23120053.2016.1266139","article-title":"Schistosomiasis risk factors based on the infection status among school-going children in the Ndumo area, uMkhanyakude district, South Africa","volume":"32","author":"M Kabuyaya","year":"2017","journal-title":"Southern African J Infect Dis"}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013310","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,31]],"date-time":"2025-07-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753920000000}}],"container-title":["PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013310","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,31]],"date-time":"2025-07-31T18:03:12Z","timestamp":1753984992000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013310"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Edward","family":"Mitre","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,23]]},"references-count":35,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,23]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013310","relation":{"new_version":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013310","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1935-2735"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1935-2735","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,23]]}}}