No abstract

Background. Each year, immunization averts an estimated 2–3 million deaths from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and measles. In 2011, nearly 107 million infants (83%) worldwide received at least 3 doses of DTP vaccine; however, approximately 22.4 million failed to receive 3 doses, and this causes large numbers of children susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases and death. Nearly 8.4 million received at least 1 DTP dose. The aim of this was to assess coverage, opportunity, and challenges of EPI among children of age 12–23 months in Woldia town, Amhara region, Northeast Ethiopia. Method. In this mixed community-based cross-sectional study, 389 study subjects were selected by using a multistage sampling method. Interviewer-administered structured questioners were used. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS Version 20 and presented by using tables and figures. Documented/recorded file from the qualitative data were transcribed into word narrative. Finally, it was presented by thematic analysis. Result. A total of 389 mothers/caretakers were interviewed. Based on vaccination card and mothers/caretakers’ recall, 385 (99%) of the children took at least a single dose of vaccine. From total children, 4 (1%) were not immunized at all, 44 (11.3%) were partially immunized, and 343 (87.7%) were fully immunized. The dropout rate was 9% for BCG to measles, 2.4% for Penta1 to Penta3, 8.3% for penta1 to measles, and 1.6% for pcv1 to Pcv3. A qualitative study revealed that workload, shortage of vaccine, and noncompliance of the mother/caretaker for the next scheduled date was the major challenge faced by health professionals and health extension workers. Conclusion. Vaccination coverage was low compared with the Millennium Development Goals target. It is important to increase and maintain the immunization level to the intended target. Thus, the town health office and concerned stakeholders need to work more to improve the performance of the expanded program on immunization in this area.

BackgroundIntestinal parasitic infestations triggered considerable gastrointestinal morbidity, malnutrition, and mortality worldwide. In particular, young children in developing countries affected most. Helminthiasis infestation accounts for 10–20% of prevalence on preschool children worldwide. Unfortunately, small children below 5 years are uniquely susceptible to intestinal parasitic infestations in poor communities. This is because of children’s behavior like playing with soil and putting hand -to- mouth habit. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infestations among preschool children in Sekota town, Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 378 preschool children in Sekota town from February 15 – March 10/2019. Stool specimens were collected and examined for intestinal parasites using wet mount and formal ether concentration technique. The risk factors of intestinal parasites were assessed using a pretested structured questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed using Epi-data version 4.2.0.0 and SPSS-version 23 statistical software respectively. Both bivariable and multivariable analysis was carried out, and potential co-linearity was tested for closely similar variables. Variables with P value less than 0.05 in multivariable analysis was considered as statistically significant and reported with 95% CI and odds ratio.ResultsThe prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestations in Sekota town on wet mount and formal ether concentration techniques was 83(21.9%), (95% CI, 17.7–26.3%) and 113(29.9%), (95% CI, 25.1–34.8%) respectively.In multivariable analysis, not taking medication as periodical deworming (AOR, 95% CI), (2.5, 1.5–4.3), presence of animals in the living room (AOR, 95% CI) (3.1, 1.8–5.3), and being a government employee as an occupation (AOR, 95% CI), (3.4, 1.1–10.0) were increasing the odds of intestinal parasitic infestations.ConclusionsThe prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestations in Sekota town is high, which is a public health problem. The risk factors that contributed to intestinal parasitic infestations in this study were preventable and modifiable. Therefore, the concerned bodies need to emphasis on periodical deworming and keeping animals in separate room.

Background Intestinal parasites were a major public health problem in many developing countries. It accounts for 1.5 billion infections with one or more causative agents. The national prevalence of helminthiasis in Ethiopia was 29.8% with considerable variability across the different regions. Young children had a high infection rate and suffered with a substantial worm burden of A. lumbricoides, trichuris trichiura and schistosomes . Parasitic infection has also serious consequences on human health, such as hepatomegaly, bleeding, esophageal varices, delay in physical development. It also decrease the immunity system, level of intelligence, and labor productivity. Therefore, this study was intended to assess mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice on prevention and control of intestinal parasitic infection among their preschool children in Sekota town, Waghimra zone, EthiopiaMethods A cross sectional study was carried out on 378 mothers who had under six years but over two years old children. Although, 384 mothers were selected using sample size calculation in the year 2019, the data was collected from 378 mother-child pairs. A face to face interview was performed using pretested and structured questionnaire in the urban villages, Sekota town. The level of maternal knowledge, attitude and practice were presented in percentage, frequency and table. Results The overall level of good knowledge or knoledgable, positive attitude and good practice of mothers towards intestinal parasites prevention and control in considering their preschool children in Sekota town was 45.2%, 55.3% and 51.1% respectively. Seventy seven 77(20.4%) respondents reported that they knew Ascaris Lumbricoids , 62 (16.4%) participants wash vegetables as a means of intestinal prevention, and 252 (66.7%) of participants stated that their children had at least one stool examination previously.Conclusions The overall level of optimum knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers on prevention and control of intestinal parasites is low. In particular, the level of optimal knowledge is very low in this study. According to the median parameter, 50% and above of mothers had both positive attitude and good practice. But mothers who were knowledgeable fall below 50%. Therefore, community awareness about intestinal parasitic infestations prevention and control should be created with special emphasis on mothers.

Background: Intestinal parasites are a major public health problem in several developing countries. It accounts for 1.5 billion infections with one or more intestinal parasitic agents. The prevalence of helminthiases in Ethiopia was 29.8%. Specially, young children have a high infestation rate and suffer from a substantial burden of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Schistosomes.Therefore, this study was intended to assess mother’s knowledge, attitude and practice on prevention and control of intestinal parasitic infestations among their pre-school children in Sekota town, Ethiopia, 2019.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was designed to be conducted on 384 mothers using simple random sampling method. But the data were collected from 378 mother-child pairs which gave a response rate of 98.4% using an interview-based questionnaire in the urban villages, Sekota town. The findings were presented in percentage, frequency and tables. In order to assure the quality of data, in all of the data collection, data analysis, and write up, a standard operational procedure was followed. Results: The overall level of good maternal knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice in preventing and controlling intestinal parasitic infection with a considering of their pre-school children was 45.2%, 55.3%, and 51.1% respectively. Seventy-seven (20.4%) respondents reported that they knew Ascaris lumbricoides, 62 (16.4%) participants wash vegetables as a means of intestinal prevention, and 252 (66.7%) of participants stated that their children had at least one history of stool examination.Conclusions: The overall level of optimum knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers on prevention and control of intestinal parasites is low. In particular, the level of optimal knowledge is significantly low. Therefore, community awareness about intestinal parasitic infestations prevention and control should be created through campaign or well-designed training and health education.Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Parasites, Infestation, Mothers, Children, Sekota, Ethiopia