Browsing by Author "Yihenew Gebeyehu"

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    Comparative Assessment of Malaria and Intestinal Parasite Prevalence in Awramba and Neighboring Communities in Wojiarbamba Kebele, South Gondar Zone Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2011-07) Yihenew Gebeyehu; Petros Beyene (Professor)
    The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of parasitic infections and the level of awareness among Awramba and neighboring communities in Wojiarbamba kebele. The community-based cross–sectional study conducted from November 2009 to April 2010 involved 392 participants from the two communities. Single stool specimens were collected from consenting individuals in the two communities. The specimens were examined microscopically for the presence of helminth parasite eggs, protozoan cysts/oocyst and trophozoites using direct saline wet mount and formol-ether concentration methods. Giemsa stained blood smears were examined for malaria parasites and a questionnaire administered to determine the KAP of study participants. Out of 392 study participants examined, 58(14.8%) had malaria and 173 (44.1%) had intestinal parasites. The prevalence of malaria in the Awramba neighboring communities (24.5%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in Awramba community (5.1%).The 10 intestinal parasites identified were Hookworm spp (11.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (9.4%) and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (8.7%), making up the major group and Cryptosporidium spp (1.8%), Trichuris trichiura (2.8%), E.vermicularis (3.5%) and Schistosoma mansoni (1.2%) were detected in few individuals only. The difference in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection between Awramba (18.8%) and the neighboring communities (69.4%) was significant (p <0.05). The prevalence of anemia among neighboring communities (27.5%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in Awramba community (18.8%). The questionnaire based study showed that Awramba community had better KAP towards protection against malaria and intestinal parasitic infections than the neighboring communities. The study showed that good household and environmental hygiene, good toilet construction and usage, proper utilization of ITN in Awramba community, has significantly contributed to the reduction of the burden of parasitic infections. Thus, the positive achievement in Awramba community could be used as a model for affordable health interventions in the neighboring communities in particular and the whole country in general. Key words: Anemia, Awramba, Intestinal parasites, KAP, Malaria, Prevalence