Study on Intestinal Parasitic Infections: Emphasis on Protozoan Parasites Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia and Associated Risk Factors Among School Children in Some Selected Primary Schools of Dembi Dolo Town, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections caused mainly by protozoa and are most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world where adequate water and proper sanitation are lacking. Children are greatly prone to these infections via the ingestion of food, water or soil contaminated with the infective stage of these parasites. The aim of this study is to assess the status of intestinal parasitic infections giving emphasis to protozoan parasites Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia and Associated Risk Factors among primary school children of Dembi Dolo town. The cross sectional study was conducted in Grade 1 to 4 children in some selected Government and private schools of Dembi Dolo town. Stool samples were collected in May 2019, from 384 children, both male and female of equal proportion. The specimens were processed and then examined microscopically to determine the presence of intestinal parasites. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict association between infection rates with age, sex and school type. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.The difference was considered statistically significant at p-value=0.05. The intestinal parasitic infection rate for both protozoa and helminthes was 34.4%. Overall prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among the school children was 18 %. Entamoeba histolytica infection was higher (13.3%) than Giardia lamblia (4.7%). The prevalence of protozoan infection was slightly higher in males (9.90%) than females (8.07%), but the difference was not significant. The protozoan infection was higher among children whose age is lower compared to the higher age groups. The parasitic infection rates were significantly higher in Berhana Yesus school (38.3%) compared to Burka Hayota (31.2%). Majority of the children 97.4%  had single species infections while 2.6% had multiple protozoa and helminthes infections. The personal hygienic factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections were failure to boil drinking water and wash hands with soap before eating. In conclusion there is relatively high prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among the studied children.Therfore, on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation health education should be adopted in primary schools in order to reduce intestinal parasitic infections among school children.

Keywords: Intestinal parasites, Prevalence, Risk factors, School children

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-11-02

Publication date:June 30^th 2020