Carriage of ß-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in hospitalized patients at debre tabor comprehensive specialized hospital.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance has remained global public health threat. Carriage with drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, particularly beta-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is among the most concerning. The purpose of this study was to look into the magnitude, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and associated risk factors among hospitalized patients. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 383 hospitalized patients at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital between September 2022 and May 2023. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data. The data on the etiologic agent was collected using standard bacteriological techniques. Briefly, stool specimens were collected aseptically into sterile, leak-proof stool cups. The stool sample was inoculated onto MacConkey agar and incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 24 h. The species isolation and antimicrobial resistance patterns were then performed adhering to bacteriological procedures. In the analysis, a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 383 study participants, and men made up the majority (55.6%). The study participants' mean age was 33 ± 18 years. Three hundred and seventy-seven (88%) of the study's participants had no previous history of antibiotic use. There were 102 (26.6%) and 21 (5.5%) cases of gastrointestinal carriage caused by Enterobacteriaceae that produce beta-lactamase and carbapenemase, respectively. In total, 175 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were detected. E. coli (n = 89) and K. pneumoniae (n = 51) were the most frequently recovered. In this study, 46 (79.3%) and 8 (13.8%) isolates of E. coli that produce beta-lactamase were resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, respectively. Furthermore, participants who had previously used antibiotics experienced a two-fold increase in exposure to gastrointestinal tract carriage by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae [AOR, 95% CI (2.01, 1.06-2.98), p = 0.001]. Conclusions: The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens is a growing concern. An increase in the prevalence of drug-resistant infections in hospitalized patients is warranting further investigation.

Bacterial Etiology of Urinary Tract Infection and Antibiogram Profile in Children Attending Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Bacterial urinary tract infections are important public health problems in children. This study was conducted to identify the bacterial agents of urinary tract infections and antibiogram patterns in children. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study including 220 children was carried out between November 15, 2021, and March 10, 2022. Simple random sampling was used to enroll participants. The sociodemographic and clinically pertinent information was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire. Every participant in the study who was ≤15 years old gave clean-catch midstream urine. Urine samples were inoculated onto a cystine lactose electrolyte-deficient agar using a calibrated inoculating loop with a 0.001 ml capacity and then incubated aerobically for 24 hours at 37°C. Subculturing for significant bacteriuria was done on MacConkey and blood agar. Gram staining, biochemical assays, and colony characteristics were used for bacterial identification. The disc diffusion method developed by Kirby and Bauer was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. SPSS software version 25 was used for data entry and analysis. To find the risk factors, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. An association was deemed statistically significant if the p value at the 95 percent confidence interval was less than 0.05. Results: In this study, the majority (50.5%) of the study participants were males. The mean age of the study participants was 6 ± 0.91 years. It was found that 31.8% of children had urinary tract infections. The most prevalent urinary pathogens among the isolates were E. coli (27.1%) and S. aureus (18.6%). Approximately 56% of the participants were infected with multidrug-resistant pathogens. Additionally, compared to children who have never had a urinary tract infection, children with a history of infection had 1.04 (95 percent confidence interval (CI): 0.39, 2.75) times higher risk of infection. Conclusion: This study has shown an alarming increase in the prevalence of pediatric urinary tract infections which warrants further investigation into multidrug-resistant bacterial infection.

The magnitude of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, prediabetes, and associated factors among adults living in Debre Tabor town, northcentral Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a worldwide public health problem. The burden of diabetes has been continuously increasing from day to day, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. Globally, half of all cases of diabetes mellitus are undiagnosed. Diabetes mellitus can be easily handled if it is detected early. There is limited evidence on the magnitude of undiagnosed diabetics and prediabetes at the community level in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Objective: To assess the magnitude of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, prediabetes, and associated factors among adults living in Debre Tabor town. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Debre Tabor town from October to December 2021. A total of 407 participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. A pretested structural questionnaire was used to collect demographic, behavioral, and clinical data. Anthropometric measurements were taken with standardized and calibrated equipment. A fasting venous blood sample was collected for blood glucose level determination. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. A P-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: The magnitude of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and prediabetes was found to be 4.5% (95% CI: 2.9-7.4) and 14.5% (95% CI: 11.1-18.1), respectively. Older age (AOR: 6.50, 95% CI: 1.82-23.21), abnormal body mass index (AOR: 6.84, 95% CI: 1.91-24.54), systolic hypertension (AOR: 8.74, 95% CI: 2.53-30.19), and family history of diabetes mellitus (FHDM) (AOR: 12.45, 95% CI: 3.63-42.65) were significantly associated with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. Using saturated oil (AOR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.09-3.55), having a high waist circumference (AOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.20-3.87), and being hypertensive (AOR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.04-4.96) were all significantly associated with Prediabetes. Conclusion: Adults in Debre Tabor town have a high prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes. A variety of modifiable risk factors were also identified. As a result, focusing the prevention strategy on such modifiable risk factors may help to minimize the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and prediabetes as well as future disease complications.

Immuno-virological status and its associated factors among HIV-positive patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy at delgi primary hospital, northwest Ethiopia, 2020/2021: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) improves clinical outcomes by suppressing viral replication and allowing immune reconstitution. It also reduces HIV-related complications including morbidity, mortality, and extended hospitalizations for HIV-positive individuals. Regular assessment for antiretroviral treatment response is fundamentally important to address the factors associated with the poor clinical outcome including immunologic failures among HIV-positive patients on HAART. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the immuno-virological status and describe its determinants among HIV-positive patients receiving HAART at Delgi primary hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Delgi primary hospital from October 25th through June 19th 2021 among a total of 442 study participants. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to enrol participants in the study. Socio-demographic and clinically related data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. About 3-5 ml of venous blood was collected aseptically for CD4+ T cell count and viral load test. SPSS version 20 software was used for statistical analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors associated with immuno-virologic status among HIV-positive patients on HAART. The odds ratio with 95% CI was computed to determine the strength of association. Then, a p-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. For this study, the results were presented by using frequency summary tables, and texts. Results: Among the total study participants, 283 (64%) were males and the mean age of the study participants was 37 ± 11.5. The overall immunological and virological failure among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) receiving participants was found to be 9.5% (42/442, 95%CI:3.23-15.09) and 12.2% (54/442, 95% CI: 2.81-23.04) respectively. In the multivariate analysis, study participants with age ≥50 years old [AOR = 1.97, p = 0.01, 95%CI (0.02-4.03)], participants having current viral load count greater ≥1000 copies/ml [AOR = 3.97, p = 0.03, 95%CI (1.09-5.01)] and having TB-co-infection [AOR = 2.51, p = 0.05, 95%CI (1.02-7.51)] were statistically associated with increased risk of immunological failure. Similarly, TB-coinfected participants were 1.88 (95%CI = 0.89-10.02) times at greater risk for virological failure. Conclusion: In this study, the magnitude of immuno-virological failure is alarming. This may be shown the need for integrated and substantial commitment to enhancing patient antiretroviral treatment adherence in the study area. Also, regular assessment for antiretroviral treatment response is fundamentally important to address the determinants associated with virological and immunologic failures among HIV-positive patients taking HAART. Furthermore, early initiation of HAART may be imperative to achieve favourable virological suppression and immunological reconstitution.

Prevalence, intensity of infection and associated risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth infections among school children at Tachgayint woreda, Northcentral Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are one of the most common infections affecting underprivileged populations in low- and middle-income countries. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm are the three main species that infect people. School children are the most vulnerable groups for STH infections due to their practice of walking and playing barefoot, poor personal hygiene, and environmental sanitation. However, evidence is limited in the study area. So, this study aimed to assess the current prevalence, infection intensity, and associated risk factors of STHs among school children in Tachgayint woreda, Northcentral Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among school children of Tachgayint woreda from February to May 2021. The study participants were chosen via systematic random sampling. Stool samples were collected from 325 children and examined using the Kato-Katz technique. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the potential associated factors for STHs. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the magnitude of the association. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of STHs in this study was 36.0% (95% CI: 30.5-41.2%). Ascaris lumbricoides are the most prevalent species 89 (27.4%) followed by hookworm 14 (4.3%) and Trichuris trichiura 10 (3.1%). All of the infected school children had light-intensity of infections with the mean of eggs per gram (EPG) being 464.53. Lack of shoe wearing habit (AOR = 4.08, 95% CI: 1.29-12.88) and having untrimmed fingernail (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.06-3.22) were identified as risk factors for STH infections. CONCLUSIONS: More than one-third of the school children were infected with at least one STH species and this indicates that STHs are still a health problem among school children in the study area. Therefore, periodic deworming, implementation of different prevention strategies, and health education programs should be regularly applied in the area.

Balantidium coli; Rare and Accidental Finding in the Urine of Pregnant Woman: Case Report.

Background: Balantidium coli is a ciliated protozoan parasite, which causes intestinal and extraintestinal infections in humans. It is transmitted feco-orally by ingesting infective cysts with food and water. Urinary balantidiasis may occur through contamination (direct spread from the anal area), secondarily to rectovaginal fistula and following immune suppression. Data about cases of urinary balantidiasis are rare in the world. Currently, there are no documented reports of urinary balantidiasis in Ethiopia. As our understanding, there are only eleven documented reports of urinary balantidiasis globally. However, cases of urinary balantidiasis among pregnant women have not been documented yet. The aim of this report is to alarm health professionals for considering the occurrence of such rare cases and conduct diagnosis. Case Presentation: A 24-year old pregnant woman was admitted due to severe preeclampsia and preterm delivery at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, gynecology ward. Her urine was presented to inpatient laboratory for routine urinalysis. We detected unusual and ciliated parasite from her urine sediment characterized by its active and rotary motility through its cilia and possessing macro- and micro-nuclei, several food vacuoles and ingested red blood cells inside the cytoplasm. Hematuria, many white blood cells and epithelial cells were also detected from the urine sediment, which suggests genito-urinary tract infection due to this parasite. This rare parasite finding was confirmed to be B. coli. Conclusion: The route of transmission and extraintestinal existence from this woman's urine was unclear. It might be due to feco-oral transmission and spread to the genitourinary tract through direct anal contact. Moreover, it might be associated with immune suppression as she is pregnant woman.

Trend Analysis of Intestinal Parasitic Infections at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia from 2017 to 2021: A Five-Year Retrospective Study.

Introduction: In Ethiopia, intestinal parasites are common due to poverty, poor personal hygiene, poor environmental sanitation, overcrowding, a lack of safe drinking water, and a lack of knowledge. As a result, evaluating the intestinal parasite morbidity pattern in low-income countries such as Ethiopia is important for designing intestinal parasite intervention programs that minimize the illness burden. Despite the high prevalence of the disease in the Debre Tabor catchment areas, there is a lack of data on the trend of intestinal parasites. As a result, the study's goal was to close the gap on the patterns of intestinal parasite infection for better control and intervention programs. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from 2017 to 2021 at Debre Tabor comprehensive specialized hospital to determine the trend of intestinal parasite infection. The findings of 7965 saline wet mount stool examinations were collected from the laboratory registration book by trained data collectors over the last five years. The study excluded any data that lacked sociodemographic characteristics and the year of the stool examination. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS version 25. Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites during the study period (2017-2021) was 2171 (27.3%) out of 7965 patients. Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (18.6%) was the predominant parasite, followed by Giardia lamblia (5.7%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (1%). Males (28.6%) were infected at a higher rate than females (26.2%) (P = 0.02). The intestinal parasite was reported in all age groups in the area, but the highest and the lowest prevalence were reported in the age groups of above 14 years (27.7%) and under five years (23.4%), respectively (P = 0.03). Conclusion: The finding showed cyclic patterns of fluctuations in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. Therefore, it is important to develop effective prevention and control strategies to prevent the distribution of intestinal parasites.

Evaluation of urine sample for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis using rK-39 immunochromatographic test in Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe form of leishmaniasis which ranks second in mortality and fourth in morbidity. Parasitological diagnostic techniques with splenic aspirate remain the gold standard. However, sample collection is risky, painful, and difficult. Alternatively, serological techniques provide good diagnostic accuracy using serum sample that is difficult for applying on small children and in the field. So, finding alternative non-invasive and self-collected samples like urine is very important. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the rK-39 strip test using urine for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. METHODS: A multicenter institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to March 2021 at Northwest Ethiopia. Sociodemographic information was collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood sample and midstream urine sample were collected for rK-39 test. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. Diagnostic performance parameters of urine-based rK-39 rapid test, i.e. sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+/-), and diagnostic accuracy were determined on contingency table by using serum-based rK-39 test result as a reference. An agreement between urine and serum-based rK-39 test was statistically determined by kappa value. RESULT: In total, 300 subjects, age ranged between 7 and 60 years, were included in the study. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of urine-based rK-39 test were found to be 98.0% (95% CI: 93.0% - 99.8%), 95.5% (95% CI: 91.6% - 97.9%), 91.6% (95% CI: 85.2%- 95.4%), 98.9 (95% CI: 96.0%- 99.7%), and 96.33% (95% CI: 93.53-98.16%), respectively. Additionally, there was a strong agreement between the results obtained on rK-39 ICT using urine and serum samples (kappa = 0.92; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Urine-based rK-39 ICT had an excellent high sensitivity, specificity and strong agreement with serum-based rK-39 ICT results. This indicates that urine sample would be a promising noninvasive and easy to collect sample for diagnosis of VL in field and rural settings.

A Retrospective Study of Malaria Trend in Libokemkem District Over the Last Five Years: North West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a vector-borne disease caused by public health important Plasmodium species. Despite the fact that Ethiopia has implemented several malaria prevention and control techniques aimed at reducing its morbidity and death, it continues as major cause of morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia. Transmission dynamics are really critical for guiding the selection of the appropriate intervention in a given area. As a result, the goal of this study was to analyze the trend of malaria prevalence over the last five years in the Addis Zemen health center. METHODS: An institutional-based retrospective analysis on malaria data from 2015/16 to 2019/20 was undertaken in Addis Zemen health center of Libokemkem district. The data collectors thoroughly and systematically collected the results of 15,452 blood films performed over a five-year period from the malaria registration book in the health center. Any data missing species and stage of the parasite, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, date, month, and year of blood film performed, were omitted from the study. Finally, data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25, with P-values of less than or equal to 0.05 deemed statistically significant variables. RESULTS: The overall malaria slide positivity rate over the last five years in the study area was 10.9%. From 2015/16 to 2018/19, the positive rate fell, then it spiked in 2019/20. Plasmodium falciparum was the most common parasite found, accounting for 72.6% of the total. The months of October, November, May, June, August, and September showed the largest number of malaria cases. Males, rural residents, and adult population groups were more affected by malaria, according to multivariate logistic regression (P ≤0.05). CONCLUSION: There was high malaria morbidity case in 2019/20 as compared to the remaining years. Therefore, malaria control, prevention, and intervention programs in the district should be strengthened.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitosis and Its Associated Factors Among Children Aged 6 to 59 months Attending Mekane Eyesus Primary Hospital, Northcentral Ethiopia.

Background. Intestinal parasites are still a serious public health problem and important cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world, particularly in developing countries. Unfortunately, pre-school children are more susceptible to infection. However, information is scarce in the study area. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and associated factors among children aged 6 to 59 months in Northcentral Ethiopia. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out at Mekane Eyesus primary hospital from June 10 to November 30, 2020. Stool samples were collected from 322 children and examined by using direct wet mount and formal ether concentration techniques. The data were entered and analyzed using EPI Info v7 and SPSS v23 statistical software, respectively. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic analysis was carried out and potential associated factors were identified based on adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and P-value <.05. Results. The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 18.0% (95% CI: 14.0%-22.0%). A total of 4 parasites were examined and the dominant parasite was E. histolytica/dispar (8.1%) followed by A. limbricoide (4.7%). Children with irregular trimming of fingernails (AOR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.59-6.21), and child who have habit of eating unwashed fruits/vegetables (AOR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.14-12.82) were strongly associated with IPIs. Conclusions. Protozoa parasites are most common cause of diseases in children. The study identified some preventable and modifiable factors to address the prevalence of IPIs. Additionally, improving mothers/guardians awareness about source of infection and mode of transmission is necessary.

Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Inanimate Surfaces and Equipment in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections have remained a serious cause of mortality, morbidity, and extended hospitalization. Bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces of the hospital environment and equipment is considered a major contributing factor to the development of several nosocomial infections worldwide. The hospital environment and many devices are an important reservoir of many clinically important bacterial agents including multidrug-resistant pathogens. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis are aimed at investigating bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns of inanimate surfaces and equipment in Ethiopia. METHODS: An exhaustive literature search was carried out using the major electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Wiley online library to identify potentially relevant studies without date restriction. Original articles which address the research question were identified, screened, and included using the PRISMA flow diagram. Data extraction was prepared in Microsoft Excel, and data quality was assessed by using 9-point Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Then, data were exported to STATA 16.0 software for analyses of pooled estimation of outcome measures. Estimation of outcome measures at a 95% confidence interval was performed using DerSimonian-Laird's random-effects model. Finally, results were presented via text, figures, and tables. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies with 3058 bacterial isolates recovered from 3423 swab specimens were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment was found 70% (95% CI: 59, 82). Among the Gram-negative bacterial species, the prevalence of ampicillin-resistant K. pneumoniae was the highest 80% (95% CI: 78, 92) followed by Citrobacter species 78% (95% CI: 57, 83). CONCLUSION: This study has shown a high prevalence of bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment in Ethiopia.

Hematological Abnormalities of Adult HIV-Infected Patients Before and After Initiation of Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northcentral Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Hematological abnormalities have been associated with an increased risk of disease progression and death in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The use of antiretroviral medications can have a positive or negative effect on the hematological disorder. However, little is known about its impact on hematological parameters in antiretroviral-treated patients in Ethiopia, especially in the study area. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from September to November 2020. A total of 334 HIV-infected patients taking highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) at least for 6 months were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the study subjects were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Hematological and immunological parameters were determined using Sysmex kx-21 hematology analyzer and BD FACS count CD4 analyzer, respectively. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20 statistical software. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 334 HIV patients were included in this study. The prevalence of anemia, leucopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were 37.1%, 22.8%, 8.4%, 10.5% and 17.1% before initiation of HAART and 17.4%, 34.2%, 18.8%, 13.1% and 8.3% after initiation of HAART, respectively. There was a significant difference in total white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin value, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet and CD4+ T cell counts in HIV patients before and after initiation of HAART (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The most common hematological abnormalities observed in this study before and after HAART initiation were anemia, leucopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. However, after beginning HAART, the prevalence of anemia and thrombocytopenia decreased dramatically.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among patients attending at Sanja Primary Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: An institutional-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal Parasitic Infections are the most prevalent diseases in the world, predominantly in developing countries. It is estimated that more than two billion people are affected globally, mostly in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Ethiopia is one of the countries in Africa with a high prevalence of intestinal parasites. However, there is a limited study conducted in the study area. Hence, this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitosis among patients attending at Sanja Primary Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Sanja Primary Hospital from January 1 to August 20, 2019. Stool samples were collected from 1240 study participants and analyzed by direct wet mount and formal ether concentration techniques. Furthermore, sociodemographic and explanatory variables were collected using a face-to-face interview. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.4.2.1 and transferred to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were fitted to identify associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was considered to ascertain the significance of the association. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 52.9% (95% CI: 50.2%-55.5%). Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (21.5%) was the leading cause of intestinal parasitosis followed by Hookworm species (13.3%). Furthermore, the rate of double and triple parasitic infections was observed in 6.1% and 0.5% of study participants respectively. Being Illiterate (AOR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.06-7.47, p = 0.038), swimming habits of more than 4 times a month (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.62-5.24, p< 0.001) and not washing hands before a meal (AOR: 3.92, 95% CI: 1.74-8.83, p = 0.001) were the key factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitic infection. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis is high in the study area. Therefore, there is a need for an integrated control program, including improving personal, environmental sanitation and health education should be given to have a lasting impact on transmission.

Prevalence of Malaria and Associated Factors Among Children Attending Health Institutions at South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Malaria is a fatal disease among children in malaria-prone locations such as Addis Zemen and Woreta because of their weak immune systems. Despite the severity of the disease in children, the majority of research conducted in Ethiopia has focused on adult populations rather than children. Furthermore, there is no data on malaria prevalence, risk factors, or parasite density among children in the Addis Zemen and Woreta catchment areas. Therefore, this study was aimed at filling the above gap in the study area. About 422 children were enrolled in the study by systematic sampling technique. A capillary blood sample was collected from each child to do blood film. The overall prevalence of malaria among children attending South Gonder health institutions was 14.7%. The majority of parasite density was moderate parasitemia followed by low parasitemia, giving 71.0% and 16.0%, respectively. Malaria parasite infection was linked to a history of malaria and the presence of stagnant water near a home, but utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets was found to be protective against the infection. Therefore, health education should be strengthened on proper utilization of bed nets, indoor residual spraying, removing stagnant water by discarding old tires that may collect rainwater, and removing debris from streams so streams flow more freely.

Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminth and Schistosoma mansoni Infection and Their Associated Factors among Hiruy Abaregawi Primary School Children, Rural Debre Tabor, North West Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, 25.3 and 12.3 million school-age children are living in soil-transmitted helminth and schistosomiasis endemic areas, respectively. The school children are at risk for both soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni due to juvenile activities like walking barefoot, playing with dirty objects that might be contaminated with feces, and fetching of unclean water for drinking. There are no data that indicate the status of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni among children at Hiruy Abaregawi primary school. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth and Schistosoma mansoni infection among Hiruy Abaregawi primary school children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2019, at Hiruy Abaregawi primary school, Rural Debre Tabor, North West Ethiopia. A total of 340 students were included in the study. Informed written consent was obtained from the children's parent. Systematic sampling technique was used to select the children. About 2 grams of stool samples was collected and transported to Debre Tabor University Microbiology and Parasitology Teaching Laboratory to conduct the Kato-Katz technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Variables with a p value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni was 51/340 (15%). Among the identified parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides accounts for 28 (8.2%), hookworm 13 (3.8%), Trichuris trichiura 4 (1.2%), and Schistosoma mansoni 6 (1.8%). In this study, 24 (7%) of Ascaris lumbricoides-, 11 (3.2%) of hookworm-, 4 (1.2%) of Trichuris trichiura-, and 5 (1.5%) of Schistosoma mansoni-infected children showed light infections and no heavy infection in both soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni was observed. Finger nail trimming status, hand washing before eating, availability of toilet at home, educational level of students, and sex of students were factors associated with soil-transmitted helminth infection. Conclusion and Recommendations. In this study, the low prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni was observed. The combination of regular mass deworming program and health information on risk factors should be strengthened for the prevention and control of soil-transmitted helminth infection.

The magnitude of Schistosoma mansoni and its associated risk factors among Sebatamit primary school children, rural Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of Schistosoma mansoni and its associated risk factors in the study area. RESULTS: Of 422 school children, 223 (52.8%) and 199 (47.2%) were males and females, respectively. The Overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 24.9% (105/422). Seventy-five out of 422 (71.4%) of the infected individuals showed light infections. The overall mean intensity of Schistosoma mansoni in the study was 106.16 eggs per gram of stool. Age (p = 0.013), swimming habit (p = 0.001), participating in irrigational activities (p = 0.03) and washing clothes in the river (p = 0.039) were factors associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection.