Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoan Parasites and Associated Risk Factors among School Children in Merhabete District, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Background. Intestinal protozoan parasitic infections remain one of the major public health problems in tropical regions especially, among developing countries such as Ethiopia. However, no enough epidemiological data is available in this respect in many parts of the country. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasitic infections and their associated risk factors among school children in Zeita village, Merhabete District, North Shewa Zone, Central Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional parasitological survey was conducted from January to March 2020. A total of 280 children from Zeita primary school were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Stool samples were collected and examined using direct wet mount, Formal-Ether concentration and Modified Zeihel-Neelsen staining techniques. Results. The overall prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasitic infection was found to be 46.8% (131/280). The three predominant protozoan parasites detected in this study were Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium parvum which were observed in 70 (25.2%), 54 (19.3%), and 7 (2.5%) of the study participants, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics of the study subjects such as family occupation ( P = 0.028 ), sources of drinking water ( P = 0.001 ), water handling practice ( P = 0.027 ), habit of eating vegetable ( P = 0.001 ), and presence of latrine were observed to be significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of human intestinal protozoan parasites. Conclusion. A high prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasitic infection which has been contributed by different risk factors was revealed in this study. The findings suggested a need of collaborative effort among the educational and health authorities to control the infection in the study area.

Potential Zoonotic Transmission of Giardia duodenalis between Children and Calves in Bangladesh

“…A very low infection rate (1.56%, 67/ 4303) was reported among hospitalized children in Turkey [30], and China (0.61%, 14/2284) [31]. However, an infection rate similar to the results of this study was reported in school children (19.3%, 54/280) from Ethiopia [32]. On the other hand, higher infections were also documented in children with malignancy (68.5%, 37/54) in Bangladesh [15].…”

An Epidemiological Survey of Intestinal Parasitic Infection and the Socioeconomic Status of the Ethnic Minority People of Moken and Orang Laut

“…A high prevalence of IPIs in humans is positively correlated with poverty, lack of clean water, contamination of the environment by human excreta and animal wastes, and poor personal hygiene and living conditions [ 45 , 46 ]. Our studies have proven that parasitic infection is not directly related to ethnic or geographic features, but the severity of IPIs is mainly due to a low socioeconomic status.…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Children Accessing Medical Healthcare at the Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

“…However, [51] reported in Ethiopia that drinking water from river sources was rated as the highest associated risk with 36.8% of parasitic infections. Also in Ethiopia, [52] reported a significant relationship between sources of drinking water and the detection of parasites. Rainfall and agricultural residues that transfer parasites to drinking water sources contribute to the spread of the parasites and in turn the high prevalence [53].…”