PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG THREE PRIMARY SCHOOLS CHILDREN IN MERHABITE DISTRICT, NORTH SHOA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are the major public health problems in many developing countries including Ethiopia. The present study was conducted to assess the common intestinal parasitic infections among school children, and associated risk factors in Gabbe, Zeita and Geren villages, Merhabete district, North Shoa, Ethiopia. Design of the study was a cross-sectional epidemiological investigation involving a total of 384 (192 male and 192 female) students in grades 1-4 school children of the three primary schools. The study was conducted from Jan-May, 2015. Fresh stool samples were collected and examined using direct wet mount and formalinether concentration to detect the presence of intestinal parasitic infections. The results indicated that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was found to be 60.7% (58.3% males and 63% females).The prevalence of protozoan parasites, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia was 24.5% and 10.9%, respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of helminth infections, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura, Schistosoma mansoni and Teania saginata was 12.2, 5.2, 3.1, 3.1, and 1.6%, respectively. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections were significantly associated (p<0.05) with some of the risk factors including family size, wearing shoe, presence or absence of latrine, source of drinking water at home, water handling practice, habit of eating raw vegetable, contact with animals, knowledge to personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. However, some other socio-demographic related factors, such as sex, age, parents’ education level, washing of vegetable or fruits before eating and latrine type were not significantly associated (P>0.05) with IPIs. In general, the study has revealed that IPIs represent a major public health problem amongst the school children of Merhabete district and that the situation calls for immediate control measures.