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Background: Soil transmitted helminths are highly prevalent worldwide. Globally, approximately 1.5 billion people are infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura or hookworm. Endemic countries carry out periodic mass treatment of at-risk populations with albendazole or mebendazole as a control measure. Most prevalence studies have focused on school aged children and therefore control programs are implemented at school level, not at community level. In this study, the prevalence of intestinal helminths, including Strongyloides stercoralis, was examined using a comprehensive laboratory approach in a community in north-western Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 792 individuals ≥5 years old in randomly selected houses in a rural district. Stools were examined using three techniques: a formol-ether concentration, the Baermann technique and a real time polymerase chain reaction test (these last two specific for S. stercoralis). Statistical analyses were performed between two large age groups, children (≤14 years old) and adults (≥15 years old). Results: The prevalence of helminths was 91.3%; (95% CI: 89.3–93.3%). Hookworm was the most prevalent, 78.7% (95% CI 75.6–81.4%), followed by S. stercoralis 55.7% (95% CI 52.2–59.1%). Co-infection with both was detected in 45.4% (95% CI 42.0–49.0%) of the participants. The mean age of hookworm-infected individuals was significantly higher than non-infected ones (p = 0.003). Also, S. stercoralis infection was significantly associated with age, being more prevalent in adults (p = 0.002). Conclusions: This is the highest prevalence of S. stercoralis detected in Ethiopia so far. Our results highlight the need of searching specifically for infection by this parasite since it usually goes unnoticed if helminth studies rely only on conventional diagnostic techniques, i.e. Kato-Katz. Moreover, the focus of these programs on children undermines the actual prevalence of hookworm. The adult population acts as a reservoir for both hookworm and S. stercoralis and this fact may negatively impact the current control programs in Ethiopia which only target treatment of school aged children. This reservoir, together with a lack of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, increases the probability of re-infection in children. Finally, the high prevalence of S. stercoralis found calls for a comprehensive diagnostic approach in endemic areas in addition to a revision of control measures that is, adding ivermectin to current albendazole/mebendazole, since it is the drug of choice for S. stercoralis. Author summary: Soil-transmitted-helminthiases and schistosomiasis have major programs for control within the neglected tropical diseases agenda. Deworming programs, that is, periodic mass drug administration, with albendazole or mebendazole and praziquantel, for at-risk populations, are the main strategy for control and success in interrupting the transmission of these diseases. But despite huge efforts made, programs are still unsuccessful in controlling STH in endemic areas in Africa. In Ethiopia most parts of the country are suitable for helminth transmission. Mapping for identification of risk areas for hookworm, A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and Schistosoma spp., has been conducted by the government, in order to prioritize the health agenda. The focus of the interventions are school- aged children. Another species of soil-transmitted helminth, Strongyloides stercoralis, of high morbidity, which requires special laboratory methods for diagnosis and a different treatment drug, is highly underestimated and not included in control programs. With the aim of knowing the prevalence of S. stercoralis and other intestinal helminths at the community level, a population in the rural area of north-western Ethiopia was studied using parasitological and molecular techniques. A high prevalence of helminths at the community level and specifically a high prevalence of S. stercoralis were detected. These results suggest there is a need to revise control programs in order to be able to cut transmission and to ensure universal health coverage that "leaves no one behind". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]