Prevalence of human intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors at Lay Armachiho District Tikildingay town health center, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Human intestinal parasitic infections are caused by intestinal parasitic species broadly categorized in to helminthes and protozoa and prevalent worldwide, mainly, in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of human intestinal parasitic infections (HIPIs) and associated risk factors at Tikildingay town health center. The socio-demographic and risk factors data were collected using organized self-administers questionnaires, and stool sample was diagnosed to determine the prevalence. The data were entered with EPI Info version 7 and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Among 404 total participants in the study 181 (44.8%) were males and 223 (55.2%) were female. The overall prevalence of HIPIs was 36.63% (148/404). Five intestinal parasitic species were identified, among these, the most predominant parasite was E. histolytica/diaper (18.56%) followed by G. lamblia (11.39%), Hookworm (5.1%), A. lumbricoides (0.99) and S. mansoni (0.5%). Out of the total infection cases in the study area, 50.68% of the infection cases were caused by E. histolytica. Those who have no hand washing habit before meal are 22.709 times more infected than those who always wash their hand (CI = 1.771, 291.112 and at p-value 0.05). In general, to prevent the HIPIs improving health service and pure water supply; as well as creating awareness to the community about personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, proper waste disposal, transmissions and prevention ways are mandatory.