PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PROTOZOAN PARASITIC INFECTIONS AMONG KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS WITH PARASITOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER SOURCES IN WOLISO TOWN, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Intestinal protozoan parasites are among the most common human infections globally. They are distributed throughout the world with high prevalence rates especially in developing countries including Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasitic infections among kindergarten children and its associations with parasitological quality of water sources in Woliso town. The design of the study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving a sample population of 384 Kindergarten children at Woliso town. The children were selected from three kindergartens using stratified random sampling method. A total of 384 fresh stool samples of the study participants and 105 water samples were collected from three types of water sources and were examined using wet-mount, Formol-Ether concentration and Modified Ziehl Neelsen methods. Among 384 stool samples examined 11.5%, Entamoeba histolytica, 8.9% Giardia lambilia and 1.6% Cryptosporidium species were found in KG children. With respect to parasitological analysis, the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium species in tap water were 17.1%,11.4% and 0%, respectively; and in the tap water that were kept in tanker the prevalence were 22.9%, 17.1% and 5.7%, respectively; and for borehole water were 28.6%,40% and 11.4%, respectively. There was statistically significant association between the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasitic infection among Kindergarten children with parasitological quality of water sources (p<0.05).This suggested that environmental sanitation, water treatment, personal hygiene and awareness creation are needed to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in Woliso town.