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Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) and Schistosomiasis (SCH) infections are public health problems in areas with less improved sanitary conditions and lack of basic social amenities. The human soil-transmitted helminthiasis infections have been reported in many rural communities of the developing world. Global estimates of STH and SCH is over 2 billion of which ascariasis accounts for 1.6 billion while trichuriasis and hookworms account for about 700 – 800 million. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosomiasis (Schistosoma mansoni) among primary school children in Tonkolili district. The study employed a cross-sectional study design in two chiefdoms within Tonkolili District. In each Chiefdom, one primary school was sampled and in each school, a random sample of 100 pupils was selected. Kato-Katz technique was used to determine prevalence and intensity of STH and SCH infections and data analysis were done using software version EPi info 3.5.3.The study revealed that the overall prevalence of STH parasites is: Ascaris lumbricoides- 5.0% [95%CI(2.1 – 8.4)] and S. Mansoni has a prevalence of 26.0% [95% CI (20.1 – 32.7)]. The overall intensity of STH parasites: Ascaris lumbricoides-5.4epg; Trichuriasis trichiura-0.6epg; Hookworm-22.0epg, and for schistosomiasis; S. Mansoni has an intensity of 47epg.The study concluded that there has been a decrease in the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the district over the years. The observed low prevalence could be partly due to the preventive chemotherapy that has been going on through mass drug administration’s since 2009 and the ongoing program of treating children under five with anthelminthic drugs during the Mother and Child Health Week twice annually in the entire country.The study recommends that if the observed decrease in low prevalence and intensity of the infections should be sustained, then mass drugs administration should be done every year.

Background: HIV stigma continues to hinder the care of people with HIV (PWH), especially in low-resource settings. We aimed to adapt and validate a concise HIV stigma scale for perceived HIV stigma in Sierra Leone., Methods: We enrolled participants in two HIV clinics in Eastern and Southern Sierra Leone in 2022. We assessed perceived stigma using a 12-item adaptation of Berger's HIV Stigma Scale and enacted stigma using select USAID indicators. We used ordinal logistic regression to identify predictors of perceived stigma and Pearson's correlation to examine associations between perceived and enacted stigma., Results: 624 PWH were enrolled. The final adapted 6-item HIV stigma scale demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.72) and a four-factor solution accounting for 84.8% of variance: concern about public attitude (2 items), personalized stigma (2 items), negative self-image (1 item), and disclosure concerns (1 item). The prevalence of perceived HIV stigma was 68.6%, with disclosure concerns as the most prominent contributor. Enacted HIV stigma was reported by only 6.7% of participants, with partner/spousal abandonment and workplace stigma being the most common discriminatory experiences. Employment (β = 0.525, p <0.001), residence in Eastern Sierra Leone (β = 3.215, p < 0.001), and experiencing enacted stigma (β = 0.804, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with perceived stigma. Having a family member or friend with HIV (β = -0.499, p < 0.001), and HIV disclosure (β = -0.710, p < 0.001) were protective against perceived stigma. Enacted stigma strongly correlated with partner abandonment and family isolation (r = 0.223, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: We found high levels of perceived HIV stigma, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to combat stigma and promote inclusivity for PWH in Sierra Leone., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors report no relevant financial disclosures or conflicts of interests.

Stigma associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common in endemic countries; however; instruments are lacking to accurately measure HBV-related stigma. We therefore aimed to develop and validate a concise instrument for measuring perceived HBV-related stigma in Sierra Leone. We enrolled 220 people living with HBV (PWHB) aged ≥ 18 years from August to November 2022. The initial Likert-scale instrument entailed 12 items adapted from Berger's HIV Stigma Scale. We included 4 additional items adapted from the USAID indicators for enacted stigma. The proposed scale's psychometric properties were assessed. After item reduction, the final HBV Stigma Scale consisted of 10 items and had good internal consistency (overall Cronbach's α = 0.74), discriminant and construct validity. Exploratory factor analysis produced a 3-dimensional structure accounting for 59.3% of variance: personalized stigma driven by public attitudes (6 items), negative self-image (2 items), and disclosure concerns (2 items). Overall, 72.8% of respondents reported perceived HBV stigma (mean score 29.11 ± 4.14) and a similar a proportion (73.6%) reported at least one instance of enacted stigma. In assessing criterion-related validity, perceived HBV-related stigma correlated strongly with enacted stigma (r = 0.556) and inversely with having family/friends with HBV (r = -0.059). The 10-item HBV Stigma Scale demonstrated good internal consistency and validity and is suitable for screening for HBV-related stigma in Sierra Leone. The psychometric properties of the scale can be optimized with item additions/modifications and confirmatory factor analysis. The scale may help in combating stigma as a barrier to achieving HBV global elimination goals.