Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Mothers on Prevention and Control of Intestinal Parasitic Infestations in Sekota Town, Waghimra Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

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

Knowledge and Practice on Prevention of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Mothers of Under-five Children in Bulehora Town, Bule Hora, Oromia Region, Southern Ethiopia

“…In this examination, as per the mean worth, 48.4 % of the mother had over the mean worth and were considered as proficient and 51.6 % of moms had beneath the mean worth and were viewed as non-educated about intestinal parasitic contaminations counteraction in Bule Hora town. This is higher than an examination that revealed the information on moms as 45.2% with respect to anticipation and control of intestinal parasites in Sekota Town, Waghimara Zone, Ethiopia.In agreement with another study in Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia, mothers had relatively reasonable knowledge about intestinal parasitic infections, and they are very well aware of their impact [10][11].…”

“…The majority of the respondent in the current investigation washed their hands (90.8%) before a meal, cut nail regularly (91.1%), self-hand washing practice (83.1%), regular use of footwear (53.3%), food hygiene practice (83.9%) and clean body after the play in soil (53.3%). Comparing similar studies in Sekota town, shows good practice levels as washing their hand before meals (78%), cut nails regularly (65.6%), less practice level in self-hand washing (86.5%) (10).A similar study in Tripura, India by comparing shows that of less practice level in regular use of footwear (57.27%) and good practice level in food hygiene (83.9%) [12]. It was higher than the results from Ichhawar(8%) and Astha (22%) in rural Madhya Pradesh [15].…”

“…In this study, the majority of the mother reported that avoiding contaminated food and water, hand washing, and least mentioned washing vegetables as prevention of Intestinal parasitic infections, which is like the investigation in which mothers mentioned washing vegetables, hand washing, and use of latrine as preventive strategies in IPI [10]. Another studies in Wondo genet found that drinking river water, chewing sugar cane, and feeding a child uncooked cabbage and green pepper were all related to intestinal parasitic contaminations in their kids [11].…”

“…The general degree of good practice among mothers living in Bule Hora town regarding intestinal parasitic infestation prevention was 46.9%, which is less than the study done in Sekota Town (51.1%) (10).From another similar study, practices observed by mothers were higher compared to that observed from Ichhawar (22%) and lower than Astha block (54%) in Rural Madhya Pradesh [15].…”

“…A similar study in Zouatta II, Ivory Coast; stated complications associated with liver damage, anemia, and other illnesses [13].In Sekota Town, Ethiopia, mothers mentioned malnutrition, anemia, and growth retardation as the major complications of intestinal parasites. In wondo Gent, Ethiopia an investigation referenced thatt intestinal parasites caused serious health problems including growth retardation, and malnutrition unless treated [10][11].…”