<p>Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Its Associated Factors Among School Children in Two Primary Schools in Harbu Town, North East Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study</p>

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are major health problems in many developing countries. School children between the ages of 5 and 15 years suffer the highest infection rate and parasitic burden that are attributed to poor sanitation and hygiene. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of IPIs among school children is high (ranging from 66.7% to 83.8%). Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two primary schools at Harbu Town, Northeast Ethiopia from February to May, 2018. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to select study participants from the two school compounds. The sample size was determined by a single population proportion statistical formula and the minimum numbers of study participants defined were 400 school children. Sociodemographic and risk factor-related information were collected using structured questionnaire. Data about detection and identification of intestinal parasites were obtained from laboratory examination of stool specimen by using wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Stool specimen from each study participant was collected using clean, properly labeled and leak-proof stool cup. The data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Results: Out of a total of 400 study participants, 86 (21.5%) were found with one or more IPIs. Six different types of intestinal parasites were identified, Entamoeba histolytica was the most 33 (8.3%) detected parasite followed by Hymenolopis nana 19 (4.8%) and Schistosoma mansoni 19 (4.8%). The least identified parasite was Giardia lamblia, detected only from four study participants. Male study participants showed 2.42 times risk (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.25-4.7, P = 0.009) of acquiring parasitic infection than female. Presence of water body near to home and having contact with water bodies showed 7.64 (AOR= 7.64, 95% CI= 3.3-17.8, P= 0.000) and 4.6 (AOR=4.6, 95% CI: 2.04-10.57, P= 0.000) times risk of infection with parasitic infection among school children, respectively. Conclusion: IPIs were highly prevalent health problem among the two primary school children in Harbu Town. Sex, availability of water bodies near to house and contact with water bodies were having significant association with the prevalence of IPIs.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions and prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among primary school children in Dessie City, Ethiopia

“…Entamoeba histolytica was the most prevalent parasite in our study (29.2%), which is consistent with a study conducted in Harbu Town, Ethiopia [ 17 ], whereas another study in children in central Albania found that Entamoeba histolytica was the least prevalent (0.3%) [ 33 ]. These discrepancies might be due to variations in school WASH programs between schools in our study and in Albania.…”

“…Similarly, a study among Debre Elias Primary School in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, reported an intestinal parasitosis rate in school children of 84.3%, with dual infections of 14.2% and high infection rates for hookworm (71.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (6.7%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (2.4%) [ 16 ]. Another study in two primary schools at Harbu town, south Wollo zone revealed the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 21.5% [ 17 ].…”

“…Factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis among school children varied considerable among schools in Ethiopia [11,[14][15][16][17]. A study in East Gojam Zone in Amhara Regional State revealed that the lack of available safe water supply, absence of shoes and low level of parents' education were associated with intestinal parasitosis among primary schools children [16].…”

“…These and additional studies of the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and associated factors in pre-school and school-age children in Ethiopia [13,17,[18][19][20][21][22][23] provide little information on WASH-related factors in parasitosis. For instance, a study in Dessie referral hospital about prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among pre-school children found a prevalence of 15.5% [24], where this study did not provide information about WASH associated factors.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Associated Factors Among HAART Initiated Children Attending at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…This finding was in agreement with the study done by Abossie and Seid, 33 and Khadka et al 34 reported that the prevalence of parasitic infection was higher in girls than in boys regardless of significant association. But this in contrast to a study done by Gebretsadik et al 35 This is most likely to be influenced by cultural values that parents who give more priorities to the health of their sons than their daughters and females may come into contact with more contaminated water and food than males, which may increase the risk of exposure to parasites.…”