Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Diarrhogenic Patients at Qilinto Prison Inmates of Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
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Date
2018-02
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Background: Intestinal parasites are one of the most neglected but the most wide spread and major public health problems in resource poor countries like Ethiopia. Studies have shown that intestinal parasites are prevalent among prison inmates. The lack of prompt and definitive laboratory method to diagnose intestinal parasitic infection is also one of the major problems in the control of the disease.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic species using different diagnostic approaches among diarrhogenic patients in prison inmates.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2017 in Addis Ababa Qilinto prison. A total of 335patients who were willing to participate, had diarrhea and not taken treatment had been included in the present study. Stool samples were collected from each study participant in clean stool collection cup and intestinal parasites were detected using wet mount, modified Zeihl_Nelsen staining and Auramine O stain. The data were double entered into excel file, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was presented by using proportions. The difference between parasitological tests was compared using Pearson chi-square test.
Results: From the total 335 study participants 185 (55.2%) came from urban area. About 90(26.9 %) of the prisoners had no formal education. The outcome of direct microscopic examination of stool sample showed that infections with various intestinal parasitic species were common in the study subjects. About 134(40%) prisoners were found positive for one or more of the intestinal parasites. E. histolytic, Gardia lamblia, Taenia species were the most common parasites detected in the prison, 56(16.7%), 15(4.5%), and 18(5.4%) respectively.
Conclusion: The prevalence of Intestinal parasitic infection is the major public health problem in Qilinto prison, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Regular screening of prison inmates for intestinal parasites and potentially deworming strategy is a potential intervention that has to be considered by the concerned bodies.
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Prison inmates, Intestinal Parsites, Zeihl Nelson stain, Auramine O Stain