Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Libbefana Kindergarten Children in Kirkos Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2018-08-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Intestinal protozoan and helminthic parasitic infections are still one of the major health concerns in developing countries. Monitoring of intestinal protozoan and helminthic infection and associated risk factors are essential for intervention strategies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among and associated risk factors among Libbefana Kindergarten children at Kirkos sub city, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
Objectives: to assess the major protozoan and helminthic parasite species and determine their prevalence rate of protozoan and helminthic parasite in preschool children in Libbefana kindergarten School, Addis Ababa during Oct. 2017- June. 2018.
Methods: facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool children students at Libbefana kindergarten children Kirkos sub city from October 2017 to June 2018. Three hundred twenty three participants were involved in the study by providing stool specimens and detailed personal information. Fresh stool samples were collected from each preschool child and processed by wet mount and formal-ether fecal concentration technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software and p value <0.05 were used as statistically significant.
Results: Among the 323 students participated in the study, (21.4%) were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. The rates of protozoan and helminthic parasites among preschool children were 15.8% and 5.6%, respectively. The most prevalent parasite detected in this study was G. lamblia (8.9%) followed by E. histolytica /dispar/ Moshkoviskii (6.8%). Among the different variables assessed in the study, parents’ educational level, hand washing habits, water consumption, personal hygiene, parents’ awareness to parasitic infection were statistically significance with intestinal parasitic infection (p<0.05)
Conclusion and recommendations: The major protozoan and helminthic parasite species diagnosed in the preschool children of Kirkos sub city were G.lamblia, E. histolytica, A.lumbricoides, T. trichiura and H. nana in varying magnitude. Improvement of sanitation and health education is required to reduce intestinal parasitic infection.
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Intestinal Parasite, Preschool Children, Risk Factors