Abstract:
Background: Soil-transmitted helminths caused millions of morbidity of preschool age children in sub-Saharan
Africa with low socio-economic status and lack of clean water and sanitation. In Ethiopia, nearly half of children are
affected by intestinal parasites. Despite this prevalence, deworming medication utilization among preschool age children is low. Hence, this study aimed to assess the community and individual level determinants and spatial distributions of deworming among preschool age children in Ethiopia.
Methods: Crossectional collected 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey datasets with a total weighted
8146 children 12–59 months old were used for this study. The data were cleaned, extracted, and analyzed using STAT
Version 16 software and exported to MS excel for spatial analysis. In addition, ArcGIS and SaTScan software were used
to detect the geographic distribution of deworming utilization among preschool age children.
Results: The magnitude of deworming among preschool age children in Ethiopia was 13.32% (95% CI: 12.60,
14.08) and ranges from the lowest 3.34% (95% CI: 1.01, 10.45) Afar region to the highest 28.66% (95% CI:24.95, 32.69)
Tigray region. In multilevel multivariable logistics regression analysis; variables such as secondary and above women
education [AOR=1.89; 95%CI; 1.32, 2.73], women who have occupation [AOR=1.47; 95%CI; 1.23, 1.76], child with
12–23 months old [AOR=2.00; 95%CI; 1.62, 2.46], having ANC visit [AOR=1.68; 95%CI; 1.35, 2.08], households that
have media exposure [AOR=1.50; 95%CI; 1.22, 1.85] were significantly associated with deworming among preschool
age children. Afar, Eastern Amhara, Dire Dewa, Harari, Somalia, and Eastern SNNPE regions were cold spot regions with
Global Moran’s I value 0.268 (p < 0.0001) for deworming of preschool age children.
Conclusions: The prevalence of deworming among preschool age children in Ethiopia is relatively low. Individuallevel factors such as; maternal education and occupation, having ANC visit, child age, household media exposure, and
community-level variables such as; community media usage had a significant association with deworming among
preschool age children in Ethiopia. These findings highlight that, the Ministry of Health (MOH) Ethiopia should prepare a regular campaign for deworming programs for preschool age children. Mass media promotion of deworming should be strengthened. The Ministry of Education should work to strengthen women’s education, household and
community media exposure. Prior attention should be given to low deworming regions such as Afar, Somalia, Diredewa, and Harari regions.
