{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T06:46:19Z","timestamp":1783406779045,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,12]],"date-time":"2023-01-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1673481600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\"><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Intestinal schistosomiasis is one of the most common neglected tropical diseases in Tanzania. Despite massive praziquantel administration, data from Northern Tanzania have reported a prevalence of up to 93.2%. Because the disease is focal, depending on host, environmental and intermediate host factors, there is a need to acquire data in specific settings to better tailor interventions. Therefore, the study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with persistent transmission of intestinal schistosomiasis among school-age children in Busega district, Northern Tanzania.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec id=\"sec002\"><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 363 primary school children, randomly selected from school clusters in the Busega district. A single stool sample was collected from each child for<jats:italic>S<\/jats:italic>.<jats:italic>mansoni<\/jats:italic>ova and infection intensity examination using Kato-Katz. Factors related to intestinal schistosomiasis transmission were acquired through a questionnaire. A malacological survey was carried out to determine the<jats:italic>Biomphalaria<\/jats:italic>infectivity rate. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were conducted to analyse the association between<jats:italic>schistosoma<\/jats:italic>infection and factors related to transmission in this setting.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec id=\"sec003\"><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The prevalence of<jats:italic>S<\/jats:italic>.<jats:italic>mansoni<\/jats:italic>infection was 41.3% (95% CI: 36.3\u201346.5), statistically significantly higher among the younger group aged less than 11 years (46.4% vs 35.3%, p = 0.032). The intensity of infection was heavy in 1.6% of participants, moderate in 9.6%, and light in 30.9%. Studying at Mwamayombo Primary School (AOR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.12\u20135.60) was the only factor significantly associated with<jats:italic>S<\/jats:italic>.<jats:italic>mansoni<\/jats:italic>infestations. The snail intermediate host belonged to<jats:italic>Biomphalaria sudanica<\/jats:italic>species, whose infectivity rate was quantified as 0.97%, thus confirming ongoing transmission in the area.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec id=\"sec004\"><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>There was a high prevalence of<jats:italic>S<\/jats:italic>.<jats:italic>mansoni<\/jats:italic>infection among school-age children in the Busega district. The presence of the infected<jats:italic>Biomphalaria sudanica<\/jats:italic>in the area documents the persistent transmission of the disease, favored by low knowledge and negative attitudes among school-aged children. Hence, the need for multi-approach intervention for schistosomiasis prevention and elimination.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0280180","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,12]],"date-time":"2023-01-12T18:55:46Z","timestamp":1673549746000},"page":"e0280180","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Burden and risk factors for Schistosoma mansoni infection among primary school children: A quantitative school-based cross-sectional survey in Busega district, Northern 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