| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 2 | Page : 77-85 |
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Prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in Bamo no. 2 primary school, Adele town, East Arsi, Ethiopia
Mulumebet Tadesse, Beyene Dobo, Melese Birmeka
Hawassa University, College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of Biology, Hawassa, Ethiopia
Correspondence Address:
Beyene Dobo
Hawassa University, College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of Biology, P. O. Box: 05, Hawassa
Ethiopia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ssajm.ssajm_36_18
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Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infection (IPI) 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. Objective: This article assesses the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among school children in Bamo no. 2 primary school in Adele town, East Arsi in southeast Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: Study participants were selected by using multistage sampling technique. A total of 417 school children were enroled in Bamo no. 2 primary school in Adele town, East Arsi. Structured questionnaires were used to identify environmental, sociodemographic, and behavioral factors. Stool specimens were collected and examined for parasites using direct smear and formal–ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. A bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done. P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of IPIs in the present study was 113/417 (27.1%), for at least one intestinal parasite. A total of six parasites were detected; the most prevalent were Ascaris lumbricoides [50 (12.00%)], Entamoeba histolytica/dispar [43 (10.3)], Trichuris trichiura [35 (8.4%)], Giardia lamblia [31 (7.4%)], Hymenolepsis nana [13 (3.1%)], and Teania saginata [12 (2.9%)]. In addition to these, single [49 (15.45%)] and multiple [64 (20.18%)] infections were identified. In this study, the most significantly associated risk factors for the occurrence of IPIs were grade level, water type used, hand washing habit before meal and after defecation, defecation habit, and eating unwashed/uncooked vegetable (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Intestinal parasites were prevalent in varying magnitude among the school children. Therefore, the Woreda health office, school community, and nongovernmental organizations need to give education on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of IPIs.
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