Abstract:
Background: Intestinal parasitic infections caused by pathogenic helminthes and protozoan species are endemic throughout the world. Intestinal parasitic infection is one of the ten top major public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia and primarily affecting school children. School-children being major victims, therefore In our study area there is no previous study about the prevalence of intestinal
parasitic infections with emphasis on S.mansoni. Due to this i am interested to the study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among school children.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among primary school children in Guangua woreda, Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Guanguaworeda primary school children from February 01 – March 01/2020. The study participants were selected using multi- stage sampling method. A total of 553 school children were enrolled in this study. Socio-demographic data of the study participants, Environmental and Habits of child behaviors the possible factors for the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infection were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was computed. In Bivariate cases p-value, less than 0.25 and for multivariate 0.05 was used considered statistically significant.
Result: Of 551 students examined for IPIs, 309 (56.1%) were positive for one or more intestinal parasitic infections. Ascaris lumburicoides was the most predominant parasites 920%) followed by Entamoeba histolytic a (14%).Among the risk factors Habits of swimming , fingernail trimming and shoe wear habits were found to be the most important predictors associated high risk of IPIs (p< 0.005).
Conclusion: High prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children demands improved health education on regular shoe wearing habits, fingernail cleanness and not swimming with barefoot.