Browsing by Author "Habteleul, Sisay"

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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) Habteleul, Sisay; Tesfaye, Fikru (PhD)
    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). vii All the three schools do not meet the minimum required standard to the 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.