Prevalence and Determinants of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care in Kasoa Polyclinic, Ghana.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections affect pregnant women worldwide. The infection has been implicated in causing life-threatening conditions in both gravid women and their developing foetus. Sub-Saharan Africa is known to harbor the greatest proportion of intestinal parasitic infections largely due to socioeconomic and environmental factors. In Kasoa, Southern Ghana, there is paucity of data on the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Kasoa Polyclinic. Methods: A hospital based analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among three hundred (300) conveniently sampled pregnant women receiving antenatal care services at the Kasoa Polyclinic. Structured questionnaires were administered to the study participants to assess sociodemographic and other possible factors. Stool samples were collected from each pregnant woman and examined for the presence of intestinal parasites by microscopy using direct wet mount as well as formol-ether sedimentation techniques. Results: Overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 14.3% (95% CI 11-19%). Entamoeba histolytica (5.0%) was the most predominant parasite species identified followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (4.3%), Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Trichuris trichiura (1.3%), Schistosoma mansoni (0.3%), Hookworm (0.3%), Hymenolepis nana (0.3%), and Isospora belli (0.3%). Age > 30 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.06-0.48; p=0.001), multigravidity (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.19-0.97; p=0.043), and 2nd and 3rd trimesters (AOR = 4.73, 95% CI = 1.36-16.49; p=0.015) were independently associated with intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women. Conclusions: A prevalence of 14.3% pregnant women compared to previous studies in Ghana is relatively low. It however suggests that intestinal parasitic infection is still a problem. The major factors noted were age, gravidity, and gestational age. Routine stool examination and provision of public health education are recommended to prevent infection of pregnant mothers and their unborn babies.

High prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection among children under 5 years in a rural Ghanaian community: an urgent call for attention.

Intestinal parasitic infections presents a significant public health concern in developing countries. The study determined the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection of children under 5 years. A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted at Dodi Papase, a town in the Kadjebi district of the Oti region of Ghana. Stool samples were collected from 152 children under 5 years and examined for the presence of intestinal parasites using Kato-Katz technique. Additionally, venous blood samples were collected from participants into EDTA tubes and analyzed for their hemoglobin concentration using the Sysmex XS-500i automated hematology analyzer All laboratory analyses were done at the Ho Teaching Hospital Laboratory. Overall prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections was 44.08% (67/152). Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm recorded 20.39%, 10.53% and 13.16% prevalence respectively. Children aged 4 years recorded the highest prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections vis-à-vis 50.00% A. lumbricoides and 37.50% Hookworm while children below age 2 years recorded the lowest. T. trichiura infection was highest among children below age 2 years (44.44%) and lowest among children aged 4 years. This study recorded an overall parasitic infections of 44.08%. This therefore calls for periodic screening, anti-helminthic treatment of these children as well as intensified education on attitudinal/behavioral change on improved personal and environmental hygiene in order to help control the menace of intestinal parasitic infections.