article · Pediatric Health Medicine and Therapeutics
Intestinal parasitic infections present substantial health challenges for school-age children in developing areas. An epidemiological study of 400 primary school children in Harbu Town, Northeast Ethiopia, examined stool specimens using wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques to identify parasites and associated risk factors. Overall, 21.5 percent of the participants were infected with at least one parasite species. Six distinct parasites were detected, with Entamoeba histolytica being the most prevalent, followed by Hymenolepis nana and Schistosoma mansoni, while Giardia lamblia was the least common. Statistical analysis revealed that male children faced more than twice the risk of infection compared to female children. In addition, living near a body of water and having direct contact with water bodies significantly increased the likelihood of infection, demonstrating the primary environmental drivers of transmission in this setting.
Intestinal parasitic infections in children can undermine health, growth, and educational attainment. Pinpointing specific local risk factors, such as contact with nearby open water bodies, helps public health authorities and community programmes design targeted sanitation, water management, and hygiene interventions to reduce infection burdens in vulnerable school populations.
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Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are major health problems in many developing countries. School children between the ages of 5 and 15 years suffer the highest infection rate and parasitic burden that are attributed to poor sanitation and hygiene. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of IPIs among school children is high (ranging from 66.7% to 83.8%). Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two primary schools at Harbu Town, Northeast Ethiopia from February to May, 2018. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to select study participants from the two school compounds. The sample size was determined by a single population proportion statistical formula and the minimum numbers of study participants defined were 400 school children. Socio-demographic and risk factor-related information were collected using structured questionnaire. Data about detection and identification of intestinal parasites were obtained from laboratory examination of stool specimen by using wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Stool specimen from each study participant was collected using clean, properly labeled and leak-proof stool cup. The data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Results: Out of a total of 400 study participants, 86 (21.5%) were found with one or more IPIs. Six different types of intestinal parasites were identified, Entamoeba histolytica was the most 33 (8.3%) detected parasite followed by Hymenolopis nana 19 (4.8%) and Schistosoma mansoni 19 (4.8%). The least identified parasite was Giardia lamblia , detected only from four study participants. Male study participants showed 2.42 times risk (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.25– 4.7, P = 0.009) of acquiring parasitic infection than female. Presence of water body near to home and having contact with water bodies showed 7.64 (AOR= 7.64, 95% CI= 3.3– 17.8, P= 0.000) and 4.6 (AOR=4.6, 95% CI: 2.04– 10.57, P= 0.000) times risk of infection with parasitic infection among school children, respectively. Conclusion: IPIs were highly prevalent health problem among the two primary school children in Harbu Town. Sex, availability of water bodies near to house and contact with water bodies were having significant association with the prevalence of IPIs. Keywords: intestinal parasites, Harbu, school children, Ethiopia
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DOI: 10.2147/phmt.s252061
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