Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasites among primary school children in Shashamane town, southern Ethiopia

Background: In spite of mass drug administration, in Ethiopia, a significant number of school children infected had an intestinal parasite infection. Investigating factors associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection among school children is indispensable to design appropriate preventive strategies. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection and associated factors among school children in Melka Essa primary school, Shashamane town South Ethiopia. Methods: A school–based cross–sectional study was employed in south Ethiopia from June 19–30, 2019. Three hundred thirty–three school children were included using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and stool–specimen examination for intestinal parasites. Stool samples were collected and processed by direct wet mount and formol–ether concentration techniques for microscopic detection of intestinal parasites. Descriptive statistics were computed. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with intestinal parasites. Results: The overall prevalence for at least one intestinal parasite infection was 19.7% (95%CI: 15.3–24.5). Hymenolepsis nana (36.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (24.1%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (12.1%), Giardia lamblia (12.1%), Tinea species (12.1%), and Enterobius Vermicularis (3.4%) were identified. Walking with barefoot [AOR=3.63, 95% CI =1.63– 8.07] and having untrimmed fingernails [AOR=1.95, 95% CI=1.05–3.62] were associated with the presence of intestinal parasite infections. Conclusions: Overall, every fifth of the student was infected by intestinal parasites in the present study. Walking with barefoot and having untrimmed fingernails were independent predictors for intestinal parasite infections. Thus, there is a need for consistent health education related to personal hygiene along with routine mass drug administration in the study area.

[1]  B. Sahiledengle.  Prevalence and associated factors of safe and improved infant and young children stool disposal in Ethiopia: evidence from demographic and health survey , 2019, BMC Public Health.

[2]  Getaneh Alemu,et al.  Current status of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among primary school children in Birbir town, Southern Ethiopia , 2019, BMC Infectious Diseases.

[3]  Megbaru Alemu,et al.  Magnitude of Intestinal Parasitosis and Associated Factors in Rural School Children, Northwest Ethiopia , 2019, Ethiopian journal of health sciences.

[4]  D. Tadesse,et al.  Prevalence of intestinal helminths and associated factors among school children of Medebay Zana wereda; North Western Tigray, Ethiopia 2017 , 2018, BMC research notes.

[5]  Zemichael Gizaw,et al.  Childhood intestinal parasitic infection and sanitation predictors in rural Dembiya, northwest Ethiopia , 2018, Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.

[6]  T. Belachew,et al.  Prevalence and intensity of soil transmitted helminths among school children of Mendera Elementary School, Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia , 2017, The Pan African medical journal.

[7]  Tamirat Hailegebriel.  Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among students at Dona Berber primary school, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia , 2017, BMC Infectious Diseases.

[8]  J. Utzinger,et al.  Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in the Plateau Central and Centre-Ouest regions of Burkina Faso , 2016, Parasites & Vectors.

[9]  M. Melku,et al.  Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminths among preschool-aged children in Chuahit, Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia: prevalence, intensity of infection and associated risk factors , 2016, BMC Public Health.

[10]  Z. Mekonnen,et al.  Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Associated Factors among Pre-School Children in Butajira Town, South-Central Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study , 2015, PloS one.

[11]  E. Zemene,et al.  High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and other intestinal parasites among elementary school children in Southwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study , 2015, BMC Public Health.

[12]  B. Tulu,et al.  Prevalence and its associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among Yadot primary school children of South Eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study , 2014, BMC Research Notes.

[13]  B. Erko,et al.  Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Children under Five Years of Age with Emphasis on Schistosoma mansoni in Wonji Shoa Sugar Estate, Ethiopia , 2014, PloS one.

[14]  Eskzyiaw Agedew,et al.  Prevalence and Determinant Factors of Intestinal Parasites among School Children in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia , 2014 .

[15]  Mohammed Seid,et al.  Assessment of the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and associated risk factors among primary school children in Chencha town, Southern Ethiopia , 2014, BMC Public Health.

[16]  T. Workneh,et al.  Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Factors amongDebre Elias Primary Schools Children, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region,North West Ethiopia , 2014 .

[17]  M. Asemahagn.  Parasitic Infection and Associated Factors among the Primary School Children in Motta Town, Western Amhara, Ethiopia , 2014 .

[18]  Zelalem Addis,et al.  Current status of soil transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni infection among children in two primary schools in North Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study , 2014, BMC Research Notes.

[19]  S. Brooker,et al.  Global numbers of infection and disease burden of soil transmitted helminth infections in 2010 , 2014, Parasites & Vectors.

[20]  Y. Belyhun,et al.  Nutritional status, intestinal parasite infection and allergy among school children in Northwest Ethiopia , 2013, BMC Pediatrics.

[21]  K. Opara,et al.  The Impact of Intestinal Parasitic Infections on the Nutritional Status of Rural and Urban School-Aged Children in Nigeria , 2012, International journal of MCH and AIDS.

[22]  A. Hailu,et al.  Current status of intestinal schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis among primary school children in Adwa Town, northern Ethiopia. , 2011 .

[23]  M. K. Ijaz,et al.  The global war against intestinal parasites--should we use a holistic approach? , 2010, International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

[24]  I. Adam,et al.  Intestinal protozoa and intestinal helminthic infections among schoolchildren in Central Sudan. , 2010 .

[25]  Veronica Tuffrey,et al.  A review and meta-analysis of the impact of intestinal worms on child growth and nutrition. , 2008, Maternal & child nutrition.

[26]  S. Brooker,et al.  Global epidemiology, ecology and control of soil-transmitted helminth infections. , 2006, Advances in parasitology.

[27]  B. Erko,et al.  Prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in a rural area close to the southeast of Lake Langano, Ethiopia , 2005 .

[28]  S. Ertuğ,et al.  Intestinal parasites prevalence and related factors in school children, a western city sample-Turkey , 2004, BMC public health.

[29]  B. Kazemi,et al.  The distribution of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar in northern, central, and southern Iran , 2004, Parasitology Research.

[30]  Dirk Engels,et al.  Soil-transmitted helminth infections: updating the global picture. , 2003, Trends in parasitology.

[31]  S. Awasthi,et al.  Helminthic infections , 2003, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[32]  J. Kvalsvig,et al.  The effects of parasite infections on cognitive processes in children. , 1991, Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology.