Browsing by Author "Fikru Tesfaye"

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    Assessment of the Effect of Nutritional Status' and Intestinal Parasitic Infection on Academic Performance of Elementary School Children in Teda Town, Gonder, Ethiopia.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2000-12) Belete Abebe; Fikru Tesfaye
    A cross sectional study was conducted involving 641 students of the two primary schools of Teda town, North Gonder. The purpose of the study was to determine the nutritional and intestinal parasitic infect ion (lP I) status of the children, the effect of IPI and nutritional status on the children's academic performance, and the effect of IPI on nutrition. Data were collected using questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Physical and stool examinations were also carried out. School average scores were obtained from school records. The data were entered, processed and ana lysed using EPI Info version 6, computer software (and its subprogram EPINUT). Underweight and stun ting were found to be 59.S% and 41.7% respectively, whereas the over all IPI rate was 77.7%. The commonest infection was Ascaris IUl11bricoides with prevalence or 66. 7%, followed by Entameba hi stolytica with prevalence of 14.S%. Low than high pupil s' school average score was significantly associated with underweight, X' = 39.45, (p value < 0.0001), and with stunting, 'X = 19.79, (p < 0.001). Intestinal parasitic infection did not show any association with the nutritional status and school performance or the children. A higher proportion of the younger than the older age group was underweight, OR = I.S6 (95% CI = 1.32, 2.64). Also higher proportion of the urban students than that of the rural ones were under weight, OR = 2.25 (95% CI = 1.59, 3 . IS), and a significantly higher proport ion of the urban than the rural students were stunted. The town and the rural students were not different regarding to II'I. Th is survey should sensitize concerned bodies for improving primary school children's health and nutrition. Recommendations are made to take actions to alleviate the lPI and nutritional problems of the school children .
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    Assessment of the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among School Children and their Knowledge and Practice of Hygiene and Sanitation in Primary Second Cycle Schools, Debirebrhan Town
    (Addis Abeba Universty, 2010-06) Sisay Habteleul; Fikru Tesfaye
    Background: Poor sanitation in schools can cause parasitic infection among school children that can result in impaired children’s growth and development. It also increases student’s absenteeism from school and affects student’s academic performance. Due to poor sanitation, about 40% of the world’s 400 million school age children are infected with intestinal worms. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among school children and their knowledge and practice on hygiene and sanitation in Debrebrihan town second cycle schools. Methods: A cross-sectional study on prevalence of intestinal parasite infection and their knowledge and practice among school children were conducted in March 9 to April 5, 2010. A stool sample was taken from school children and examined using formol-ether concentration technique for parasite. The data on socio-demography and hygiene sanitation knowledge and practice variables, and sanitary survey of schools were collected using structured questionnaire and observational check-list respectively. The data were entered and cleaned using Epi-info window version 3.5 and analyzed by SPSS version 11. To assure the data quality, training for data collectors and supervisors was given and supervisors were checking the data consistency and completeness. Result: Of the total 721 study participants, 308 were males and 413 females. According to the findings of this study, 405 of the study participants were knowledgeable on hygiene and sanitation. More than half (56.4%) of the participants had a better hygiene and sanitation practice. The overall prevalence of at least one intestinal parasitic infection was 41.3%. Six species of intestinal parasites were identified. The predominant parasite was A. lubricoides with a prevalence of 12.3% followed by E.histolytica/dispar) and G.lambia. .Double intestinal parasitic infection rate was found to be 1.2 %( only 2 out of 165 Children). All amount of water supply and latrine seats to students’ ratio. Conclusions and Recommendations: According to the findings, nearly more than half of the study participants had knowledge and practice on hygiene and sanitation. Relatively high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was seen among school children & schools lack basic sanitary facilities. Therefore, schools should improve basic sanitary facilities, knowledge and practice of students.
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    Health Seeking Behaviour among Individuals with STD Symptoms
    (Addis Ababa University, 1995-05) Fikru Tesfaye; Mesfin Kassaye
    In Ethiopia and other developing countries the prevalence of STDs and their complications, as well as, resistance to antimicrobials is believed to be widespread. A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Adami-Tullu Woreda during Sept. - Oct., 1994, to estimate the prevalence of STDs, and identify determinants of health seeking behaviour of individuals with STD symptoms. A total of 2240 individuals aged 12-49 years were enrolled in to the study using a cluster sampling method. The two-week prevalence of STD symptoms was 2.5% among individuals aged 12-49 years. Rate of seeking health care among individuals with STD symptoms was 26.8%. Perceived severity of illness, and also lack of money were significant determinants of health care seeking among individuals with STD symptoms, OR=0.23, 95% CI(0.05,0.95), and OR=3.29, 95% CI (1 . 63,6.66), respectively. It is concluded that the majority of individuals with STD symptoms do not seek health care due to high cost of STD treatment services and also because the diseases are not considred severe enough . Expansion of health education and other preventive services targeted at STDs, and free STD curative services to the rural communities, are recommended.