PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN OF AFEZEZ PRIMARY SCHOOL, MERHABIETE DISTRICT, NORTH SHOA, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are the major public health problems in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Intestinal protozoa and helminths are among the major factors that contribute or cause malnutrition. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associations with anthropometric measurements of school children at Afezez Primary School in Merhabiete district using a school based cross-sectional survey design. A total of 422 participants selected from school children attending Kindergarten to grade eight took part in the study. Stratified sampling technique was used for the study. Stool samples were collected from each and processed for microscopic examinations to identify parasites. Structured questionnaires were administered in both English and Amharic to gather relevant information on demographic and risk factors that predispose individuals to intestinal parasite infections. The processed stool samples were examined using Direct Wet Mount and Formol-ether Concentration methods. Anthropometry calculating software, AnthroPlus was employed to evaluate anthropometric parameters; descriptive statistics Pearson Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the possible association between anthropometric and intestinal parasitic infections. The predominant species of intestinal protozoan parasites identified were Entamoeba histolytica (14.23%), and Giardia lamblia (10.18%) and also the predominant species of intestinal helminths parasites identified were Ascaris lumbricoides 22(5.21%), hookworm 11(2.6%), Taenia species 8(1.89%), Hymenolepis nana 6(1.42%), and Trichuris trichiura 3(0.71%).The finding of this study showed that there was no significant association between intestinal parasitic infections and nutritional status (p>0.05). However, factors like drinking water source, eating unwashed vegetables, level of knowledge on mode of personal hygiene and latrine availability in home vicinity showed significant relationship with intestinal parasitic infection (P<0.05). Consequently, these factors were deduced to be the major risk factors associated with the prevalence of IPIs among children of Afezez Primary School.Therefore, health education in relation to personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, cost effective water purification mechanisms such as boiling and using chemicals, appropriate management of domestic animals and proper use of latrine and avoiding eating contaminated food, raw or lightly cooked vegetables will help in enhancing the health and well-being of the community.