Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren of Homesha District (Woreda) in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infection (IPIs) is one of the major and serious medical and public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. Effective prevention and control of IPIs require the identification of local risk factors, particularly among school children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among Homesha district school children, Northwest Ethiopia. School based cross sectional study was conducted to from March-June 2015 to achieve this objective. Study subjects were selected by using multi stage sampling technique. A total of 395 school children were enrolled in this study. Socio-demographic data and possible risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Approximately 2 gram of stool specimen was collected and examined for the presence of intestinal parasite using wet mount and formol ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square (χ 2) test and crude odd ratio were calculated to verify and measure the possible association between IPIs and potential risk factors. The overall prevalence of IPs in the present study was 160/395 (35.44%), for at least one intestinal parasite. Of the nine species of intestinal parasites identified, the most prevalent were E. histolytica/dispar 56 (14.17%) followed by G. lamblia 50 (12.65%) and Hook worm 27 (10.12%). Double and triple infections were identified; among these the double and triple infection were 28 (20%) and 6 (4.29%) respectively. In this study the most significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were hand washing habit, eating unwashed/undercooked vegetation, waste disposal habit, shoe wearing habit and practice of figure nail trimming (P<0.05). Intestinal parasites were prevalent in varying magnitude among the schoolchildren and they are public health problem. Therefore, the woreda health office in collaboration with schools community and other stake holders should work to take measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of IPIs.