Effectiveness of a School-Based Health Education Intervention on Soil-Transmitted Helminth Prevention Among Primary School Pupils in Lao PDR.

Abstract

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common parasitic infections worldwide but remain underappreciated in certain regions, including Laos PDR. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a 1-year health education intervention on improving knowledge and practices related to STH prevention among grades 4 and 5 primary school pupils in Xay District, Udomxay Province, Laos in 2023.

Methods: We conducted a health education intervention study and pre-post intervention surveys using a pre-tested and validated questionnaire. A 2-stage sampling approach selected 363 pupils from Bankhat and Namgan primary schools in Xay District. Pupils' knowledge and practices were assessed and compared before and after the intervention using the McNemar test. Statistical significance was determined at P < .05.

Results: The intervention led to a significant improvement in pupils' knowledge and practices regarding STH prevention. The proportion of pupils with good knowledge increased from 38.3% at baseline to 96.4% at endline, while those demonstrating good practices rose from 34.7% to 91.1%.

Conclusion and recommendations: The health education intervention played a critical role in reducing the risk of STH infections among school-aged children. National health policies in Lao PDR should incorporate comprehensive STH prevention strategies, including school-based health education, improved sanitation, and community engagement, to achieve sustainable impacts.