Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth infections among pre-school age children in 12 kindergartens in Jimma Town, southwest Ethiopia.

Background Pre-school age children (preSAC) remain difficult to reach in mass drug administration (MDA) programmes to control soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. Kindergartens provide a unique platform to increase the coverage of MDA in preSAC in Ethiopia, but surveys assessing STHs among preSAC in kindergartens are scarce. Methods We report the prevalence and intensity of STH infections among 622 preSAC in 12 kindergartens in Jimma, Ethiopia. Results STHs were found in all kindergartens, with prevalence exceeding 50% in 8 kindergartens. The majority of the infections were of low intensity. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of kindergartens as an additional opportunity for MDA in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]