COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INTESTINAL PARASITOSIS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG RURAL SCHOOLCHILDREN LIVING IN HIGHLAND AND LOWLAND AREAS OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: -Intestinal parasitosis refers to a group of diseases caused by one or more species of protozoa, cestodes, trematodes or nematodes distributed with high prevalence throughout the world. Because of poor cleanliness, hand-mouth activity, and underdeveloped immune systems, schoolchildren are particularly vulnerable to intestinal parasite infections. There is limited research report on Intestinal parasite infections among schoolchildren in the study areas. Objective: -To assess prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and associated factors among rural school children living in highland lowland areas of Eastern Ethiopia form October 7-21, 2022. Methods: -A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in rural public schools from Haramaya woreda and Dire Dawa. Three hundred ninety four school children was included from Haramaya woreda and 311 school children from Dire Dawarural Culsterusing a systematic sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and stool specimen examination for intestinal parasites was done. Data was entered into EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Those factors with p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results:The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in highland and lowland area for one types parasite were 28.68% and 35.37%, respectively. The most frequent isolates intestinal parasite in Highland area were Giardia lamblia 50 (12.7%) and Hymenolepis nana 30 (7.6%). Similarly, the most frequent isolated intestinal parasite in Lowland area were Entamoeba histolytica 31(10%) and Giardia lamblia 45 (14.5%). The absence of habit of washing hands after visiting the toilet (AOR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.8) and presence of dogs (AOR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.7, 4.6) were significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis in Highland area. The absence of habit of washing hands before collecting water (AOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.7) and without the habit of rinsing the water collecting container (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 4.5) were significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis in Lowland area. Conclusion: In Highland area, presence of dogs in the house and did not have a habit of hand washing after visit the toilet were identified associated factors with intestinal parasitosis. In Lowland area, those who did not wash their hand before water collection and didn’t have a habit XVI of rinsing the water collecting container were identified associated factors with intestinal parasitosis. Better to focus more on community health education about intestinal parasitosis by focusing identified factors like having a Habit of hand washing after visit the toilet, taking care contact with dogs, like hand washing well before water collection and a habit of water collection container rinsing