Tungiasis infection among primary school children in Northeastern Tanzania: prevalence, intensity, clinical aspects and associated factors

Mussa Mtunguja; Vivian Mushi; Valeria Silvestri; Hoseenu Palilo; Winfrida John; Yonah Eliud Yangaza; Donath Tarimo

doi:10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.03.001

Tungiasis infection among primary school children in Northeastern Tanzania: prevalence, intensity, clinical aspects and associated factors

IJID Reg. 2023 Mar 5:7:116-123. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.03.001. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Mussa Mtunguja¹, Vivian Mushi^{1

2}, Valeria Silvestri¹, Hoseenu Palilo¹, Winfrida John³, Yonah Eliud Yangaza⁴, Donath Tarimo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
² Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
³ National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
⁴ Mbeya Regional Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence, intensity, clinical aspects and factors associated with tungiasis infection among primary school children in Northeastern Tanzania.

Methods: A quantitative school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 401 primary school children. Participants were assessed through clinical examination to look for embedded Tunga penetrans in their hands, feet, arms and legs. A structured questionnaire was used to enquire about factors associated with tungiasis infection. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test and logistic regression, with p<0.05 taken to indicate significance.

Results: The overall prevalence of tungiasis infection was 21.2%. Of the 85 tungiasis-infested children, 54 [63.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 53.1-74.1] had mild infection, 25 (29.4%, 95% CI 19.0-39.6) had moderate infection, and six (7.1%, 95% CI 1.2-12.9) had heavy infection. A moderate level of knowledge was significantly associated with high odds of tungiasis infection [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.16, 95% CI 1.50-6.67], while not keeping a dog/cat at home was a protective factor (AOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25-0.89).

Conclusions: Moderate prevalence of tungiasis infection was observed among primary school children favoured by factors related to the host, parasitic agent and environment. There is a need for a health education programme in schools encouraging use of appropriate footwear (closed shoes), use of locally accessible repellents (coconut oil), fumigation of households, and washing dogs/cats with insecticides.

Keywords: Northeastern Tanzania; Primary school children; Tunga penetrans; Tungiasis infection.