Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors among the First-Cycle Primary Schoolchildren in Sasiga District, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract EN

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) have been major public health burdens in low-income countries like Ethiopia.

Studies in different areas of Ethiopia have shown a high prevalence of IPIs in poor families.

A similar study has not been conducted in Sasiga District given that the area is possibly at high-risk of IPIs due to the prevailing risk factors.

This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Sasiga District, southwest Ethiopia.

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2018 to March 2019 to estimate the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among the study participants.

A total of 383 children were selected using resident-type and grade-level stratified systematic random sampling technique.

Stool samples were examined microscopically using direct wet mount and formal-ether concentration techniques.

A structured questionnaire was used to get information on the associated risk factors.

Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and p value of ≤0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

The overall prevalence of IPIs among the children was 62.4% (239/383).

Single, double, and triple infections were 49.9%, 10.7%, and 1.83%, respectively.

Residence, family income, place of defecation, source of drinking water, shoe-wearing habit, handwashing habit after toilet use, ways of waste disposal, and cleanliness of fingernail were the most important predictors of IPIs (p<0.05).

Ascaris lumbricoides (22.7% (87/383)) and hookworms (20.6% (79/383)) were the most prevalent parasites, followed by Entamoeba histolytica (8.1%), Trichuris trichiura (7.6%), Giardia intestinalis (6.5%), Hymenolepis nana (5.7%), and Schistosoma mansoni (4.4%), in that order.

Sasiga District primary schoolchildren are likely at a high burden of IPIs.

Intensive health education on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation is needed.