Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Patients Attending Dejen Primary Hospital, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are the greatest worldwide cause of illness and disease. About 1.5 billion individuals have been infected by IPIs in 2023, of these the lion shares of the burden is found in Sub-Saharan African regions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among patients attending Dejen primary Hospital. The study was conducted in the Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia, East Gojjam Zone, Dejen town, Dejen primary hospital. Patients in all age groups attending the hospital during the study period were included in the study. A total of 414 study participants were determined by standard formula. The socio-demographics characteristics were collected by face-to-face interview using well-structured questionnaires. Stool samples were examined microscopically using a direct wet mount method. In this study, five known parasites identified including <italic>Entamoeba histolytica</italic>, <italic>Giardia lamblia</italic>, <italic>Hookworm</italic>, <italic>Taenia</italic> spp. and <italic>Strongyloides stercoralis</italic>. Among them, <italic>E. histolytica</italic> and <italic>G. lamblia</italic> belonged to the leading protozoan parasites with 26.1 and 9.2% prevalence, respectively. The rest, <italic>Hookworm</italic>, <italic>Taenia</italic> spp. and <italic>Strongyloides stercoralis</italic>, categorized as soil helminthic parasites and accounts 3.1, 0.7 and 0.2% prevalence, respectively. The prevalence of IPIs in the study area is highly associated with the occupation of the patients, consumption of raw vegetables, swimming practice in rivers and source of drinking water.