Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care

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Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren of Homesha District (Woreda) in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia

Received: 02 June 2016    Accepted: 20 June 2016    Published: 03 November 2016
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Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infection (IPIs) is one of the major and serious medical and public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. Effective prevention and control of IPIs require the identification of local risk factors, particularly among school children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among Homesha district school children, Northwest Ethiopia. School based cross sectional study was conducted to from March-June 2015 to achieve this objective. Study subjects were selected by using multi stage sampling technique. A total of 395 school children were enrolled in this study. Socio-demographic data and possible risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Approximately 2 gram of stool specimen was collected and examined for the presence of intestinal parasite using wet mount and formol ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square (χ2) test and crude odd ratio were calculated to verify and measure the possible association between IPIs and potential risk factors. The overall prevalence of IPs in the present study was 160/395 (35.44%), for at least one intestinal parasite. Of the nine species of intestinal parasites identified, the most prevalent were E. histolytica/dispar 56 (14.17%) followed by G. lamblia 50 (12.65%) and Hook worm 27 (10.12%). Double and triple infections were identified; among these the double and triple infection were 28 (20%) and 6 (4.29%) respectively. In this study the most significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were hand washing habit, eating unwashed/undercooked vegetation, waste disposal habit, shoe wearing habit and practice of figure nail trimming (P<0.05). Intestinal parasites were prevalent in varying magnitude among the schoolchildren and they are public health problem. Therefore, the woreda health office in collaboration with schools community and other stake holders should work to take measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of IPIs.

DOI 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.16
Published in Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care (Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2016)
Page(s) 57-64
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Associated Risk Factors, Homesha, Intestinal Parasites, Prevalence, Schoolchildren

References
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[3] A. Gelaw, B. Anagaw, B. Nigussie, B. Silesh, A. Yirga, M. Alem, M. Endris, and B. Gelaw, “Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and risk factors among schoolchildren at the University of Gondar Community School, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study,” BMC Public Health, vol. 13, 304-311, 2013.
[4] T. Wegayehu, T. Tsalla, B. Seifu, and T. Teklu, “Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among highland and lowland dwellers in Gamo area, South Ethiopia,” BMC Public Health., vol. 13, 151-158, 2013.
[5] A. Alemu, A. Atnafu, Z. Addis, Y. Shiferaw, T. Teklu, B. Mathewos, W. Birhan, S. Gebretsadik, and B. Gelaw, “Soil transmitted helminths and schistosoma mansoni infections among school children in zarima town, northwest Ethiopia,” BMC Infectious Diseases, vol. 11, 189-196, 2011.
[6] WHO, “Soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Number of children treated 2007-2008: update on the 2010 global target,” Wkly Epidemiol Rec, vol. 85, 141-14, 2010.
[7] M. O. Harhay, J. Horton, and P. L. Olliaro, “Epidemiology and control of human gastrointestinal parasites in children,” Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, vol. 8, 219-234, 2010.
[8] T. Workneh, A. Esmael, and M. Ayichiluhm, “Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Factors among Debre Elias Primary Schools Children, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, North West Ethiopia,” J Bacteriol Parasitol, vol. 5, 1-6, 2014.
[9] M. Legesse, and B. Erko, “Prevalence of intestinal parasites among schoolchildren in a rural area close to the southeast of Lake Langano, Ethiopia,” Ethiop. J. Health Dev., vol. 18, 116-120, 2004.
[10] E. Tigabu, B. Petros, and T. Endeshaw, “Prevalence of Giardiasis and Cryptosporidiosis among children in relation to water sources in Selected Village of Pawi Special District in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Northwestern Ethiopia,” Ethiop. J. Health Dev., vol. 24, 205-213, 2010.
[11] M. Alamir, W. Awoke and A. Feleke, “Intestinal parasites infection and associated factors among schoolchildren in Dagi primary school, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia,” Health, 5, 1697-170, 2013.
[12] T. Flatie, T. Gedif, K. Asres and T. Gebre-Mariam, “Ethnomedical survey of Berta ethnic group Assosa Zone, Benishangul-Gumuz regional state, mid-west Ethiopia,” Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, vol. 5, 14-25, 2009.
[13] W. Daniel, Biostatistics: A foundation for analysis in the health sciences. 6th ed. New York: Willey. 1995
[14] M. Alemu, A. Hailu, and G. Buggsa, “Prevalence of intestinal Schistosomiasis and soil transmitted heliminthiasis among primary school children in umolante district, South Ethiopia,” Clinical Medicine Research, 3960, 174-180, 2014.
[15] K. D. Parameshwarappa, C. Chandrakanth, and B. Sunil, “The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestations and the evaluation of different concentration techniques of the stool examination,” J. Clin. Diagnostic Res., 4662, 2392-2396, 2012.
[16] T. Kiran, N. Shashwati, B. Vishal, and D. A. Kumar “Intestinal Parasitic infections and Demographic status of schoolchildren in Bhopal region of Central India,” Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, 9, 83-87, 2014.
[17] A. A. Gebru, B. A. Bizune, Y. Y. Ayene, Z. M. Semene, A. W. Hailu, T. Nigussie, and M. K. Assefa, “ Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors at Red Cross Clinic and Chelaleki Health Center, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia,” Science Journal of Public Health, 3, 445-452, 2015.
[18] E. Kidane, S. Menkir, A. Kebede and M. Desta, “Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associations with anthropometric measurements of school children in selected primary schools, Wukro Town, Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia,” Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App., 3, 11-29, 2014.
[19] A. Asrat, D. Tewodros, and W. Alemayehu, “Prevalence and risk factors of IPs among Delgi school children, Northern Gonder, Ethiopia,” Journal of Parasitology and Vectoriology, 3, 75-81, 2011.
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Author Information
  • Department of Biology, Assosa University, Assosa, Ethiopia

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    Gebremichael Gebretsadik. (2016). Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren of Homesha District (Woreda) in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia. Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care, 2(4), 57-64. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.16

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    Gebremichael Gebretsadik. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren of Homesha District (Woreda) in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia. J. Fam. Med. Health Care 2016, 2(4), 57-64. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.16

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    AMA Style

    Gebremichael Gebretsadik. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren of Homesha District (Woreda) in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia. J Fam Med Health Care. 2016;2(4):57-64. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.16,
      author = {Gebremichael Gebretsadik},
      title = {Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren of Homesha District (Woreda) in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia},
      journal = {Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {57-64},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20160204.16},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfmhc.20160204.16},
      abstract = {Intestinal parasitic infection (IPIs) is one of the major and serious medical and public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. Effective prevention and control of IPIs require the identification of local risk factors, particularly among school children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among Homesha district school children, Northwest Ethiopia. School based cross sectional study was conducted to from March-June 2015 to achieve this objective. Study subjects were selected by using multi stage sampling technique. A total of 395 school children were enrolled in this study. Socio-demographic data and possible risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Approximately 2 gram of stool specimen was collected and examined for the presence of intestinal parasite using wet mount and formol ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square (χ2) test and crude odd ratio were calculated to verify and measure the possible association between IPIs and potential risk factors. The overall prevalence of IPs in the present study was 160/395 (35.44%), for at least one intestinal parasite. Of the nine species of intestinal parasites identified, the most prevalent were E. histolytica/dispar 56 (14.17%) followed by G. lamblia 50 (12.65%) and Hook worm 27 (10.12%). Double and triple infections were identified; among these the double and triple infection were 28 (20%) and 6 (4.29%) respectively. In this study the most significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were hand washing habit, eating unwashed/undercooked vegetation, waste disposal habit, shoe wearing habit and practice of figure nail trimming (P<0.05). Intestinal parasites were prevalent in varying magnitude among the schoolchildren and they are public health problem. Therefore, the woreda health office in collaboration with schools community and other stake holders should work to take measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of IPIs.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren of Homesha District (Woreda) in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia
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    AB  - Intestinal parasitic infection (IPIs) is one of the major and serious medical and public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. Effective prevention and control of IPIs require the identification of local risk factors, particularly among school children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among Homesha district school children, Northwest Ethiopia. School based cross sectional study was conducted to from March-June 2015 to achieve this objective. Study subjects were selected by using multi stage sampling technique. A total of 395 school children were enrolled in this study. Socio-demographic data and possible risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Approximately 2 gram of stool specimen was collected and examined for the presence of intestinal parasite using wet mount and formol ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square (χ2) test and crude odd ratio were calculated to verify and measure the possible association between IPIs and potential risk factors. The overall prevalence of IPs in the present study was 160/395 (35.44%), for at least one intestinal parasite. Of the nine species of intestinal parasites identified, the most prevalent were E. histolytica/dispar 56 (14.17%) followed by G. lamblia 50 (12.65%) and Hook worm 27 (10.12%). Double and triple infections were identified; among these the double and triple infection were 28 (20%) and 6 (4.29%) respectively. In this study the most significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were hand washing habit, eating unwashed/undercooked vegetation, waste disposal habit, shoe wearing habit and practice of figure nail trimming (P<0.05). Intestinal parasites were prevalent in varying magnitude among the schoolchildren and they are public health problem. Therefore, the woreda health office in collaboration with schools community and other stake holders should work to take measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of IPIs.
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