Prevalence of helminthic infections and determinant factors among pregnant women in Mecha district, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasites are the most common infections in developing countries. Prevalence and impacts of these parasites are high in pregnant women. The aims of this study were to determine prevalence of helminthic infection and evaluate the determinant factors during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mecha district from November 2015 to January 2016. The data were collected by interview technique and collecting the stool sample from each pregnant woman. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used. RESULTS: A total of 783 pregnant women were included. The prevalence of intestinal parasite among pregnant women was 70.6% [95% CI 67 -74%]. Ascaris lumbricoides (32.7%) was the predominant intestinal parasite species. Intestinal parasitic infection were 2.94 folds higher in the absence of latrine (AOR: 2.94 [95% CI: 1.5-5.8]). Absence of regular hand washing habit increase the odds of infection by 3.33 folds higher (AOR: 3.33 [95% CI: 1.54-7.14]). Not wearing shoe increased the odds of helminthic infection by 6.87 folds higher (AOR: 6.87 [95% CI: 3.67-12.9]). Illiteracy increases the odds of intestinal parasitic infection by 2.32 folds higher (AOR: 2.32 [95% CI: 1.04-5.26]). Ingestion of raw vegetables increases the odds of intestinal parasitic infection by 2.65 folds higher (AOR: 2.65 [95% CI: 3.23-9.9]). The odds of intestinal parasitic infection were higher in rural areas (AOR: 2 [95% CI: 5-10]). Intestinal parasitic infection was higher in women aged less than 21 years (AOR: 6.48 [95% CI: 2.91-14.4]). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of helminthic infection is high in this study. Latrine utilization, hand washing habit, eating raw vegetables and bare foot were the major determinant factors for the high prevalence. Therefore, health education and improvements in sanitary infrastructure could achieve long-term and sustainable reductions in helminth prevalence.

Prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection and associated clinical symptoms among schoolchildren living in different altitudes of Amhara National Regional State, northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Strongyloides stercoralis is a parasite that causes strongyloidiasis in humans. It is prevalent in the tropics and sub-tropics where poor sanitation is a common problem. The true prevalence of S. stercoralis in Ethiopia is underestimated due to the lack of a "Gold" standard diagnostic method. Moreover, its prevalence across altitudinal gradient in Amhara Region has not been studied. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 844 schoolchildren in Amhara Region from April to December 2019. A stool sample was collected from each study participant and processed using formol ether concentration technique (FECT), spontaneous tube sedimentation technique (STST), Baermann concentration technique (BCT), agar plate culture (APC) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data were entered using EpiData and analyzed by SPSS version 23 statistical software. Prevalence of S. stercoralis infection was determined using a single diagnostic technique and combination of techniques. Association of clinical variables with S. stercoralis infection was assessed by logistic regression and independent variables with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and S. mansoni infections was 38.0% and 20.4%, respectively. Among STHs, the prevalence of hookworm infection was 32.8%. Prevalence of S. stercoralis infection was 39.0%, 28.8%, 10.9%, 10.3%, 4.0% and 2.0% by the respective, combinations of the five methods, RT-PCR, APC, BCT, STST and FECT. The highest prevalence rates, 48.2%, 45.0% and 41.1% of S. stercoralis were recorded in the age group of 12-14 years, males and rural dwellers, respectively. Prevalence rates of S. stercoralis infection in highland, semi-highland and lowland areas were 40.4%, 41.8% and 25.9%, respectively. Having abdominal pain (AOR = 2.48; 95% CI:1.65-3.72), cough (AOR = 1.63;95%CI:1.09-2.42), urticaria (AOR = 2.49;95%CI:1.50-4.01) and being malnourished (AOR = 1.44;95%:1.10-2.01) were significantly associated with strongyloidiasis. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of S. stercoralis infection was high and varied across different altitudes in Amhara Region. Some clinical syndromes were found to be significantly associated with S. stercoralis infection. Therefore, proper diagnosis and preventive strategies against S. stercoralis infection are highly recommended to be devised and implemented in Amhara Region.

Intestinal parasitic infection among household contacts of primary cases, a comparative cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infection affects 3.5 billion people in the world and mostly affecting the low socio-economic groups. The objectives of this research works were to estimate the prevalence and determinants of intestinal parasitic infection among family members of known intestinal parasite infected patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A comparative cross-sectional study design was implemented in the urban and rural settings of Mecha district. The data were collected from August 2017toMarch 2019 from intestinal parasite infected patient household members. Epi-info software was used to calculate the sample size, 4531 household members were estimated to be included. Data were collected using interview technique, and collecting stool samples from each household contact of intestinal parasite patients. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites among known contacts of intestinal parasite patients/family members. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinant factors of intestinal parasitic infection among family members. RESULTS: The prevalence of intestinal parasite among household contacts of intestinal parasite-infected family members was 86.14% [95% CI: 86.14% - 87.15%]. Hookworm infection was the predominant type of infection (18.8%). Intestinal parasitic infection was associated with sex, environmental sanitation, overcrowding, personal hygiene, residence, substandard house, role in the household, source of light for the house, trimmed fingernails, family size, regular handwashing practice. Protozoa infection was associated with habit of ingesting raw vegetable, playing with domestic animals, water source and the presence of household water filtering materials. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was observed among household contacts of primary cases.