Short communication: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Uganda: epidemiology and cost of control

A countrywide description of the distribution of soil-transmitted helminths in Uganda is reported, based on data for 20 185 schoolchildren from 271 schools. The overall prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm was 6.3%, 5.0% and 43.5%, respectively. The prevalence of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was unevenly distributed in the country with prevalence greatest in south-western Uganda whereas hookworm was generally more homogeneously distributed. Based on preliminary cost analysis of an ongoing school-based control programme, the financial delivery cost per schoolchild treated with albendazole is estimated to be between US$ 0.04 and 0.08 in different districts.