THE PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN BASIC SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE ABUAKWANORTH DISTRICT

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a major global cause of illness and disease, with helminthic interstitial parasites and parasitic intestinal protozoa causing significant morbidity, discomfort, and even mortality in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although these parasites can infect people of all ages, children are especially vulnerable. General Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among basic school children in the Abuakwa-North District. Methodology: The study conveniently sampled 225 children from age 5-15 by using simple random sampling method to collect their stool samples and examined for the presence of various types of parasites using direct wet mount and formol ether concentration techniques. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect participants information about participants knowledge, their socio-demographics and their socio-economic parameters. Informed consent was taken from participants parents and participation was fully voluntary. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23, and descriptive statistics was used to determine the prevalence rate of identified parasites. Results: Among the total 225 study members, females made up 60% while male were 40%. Participants below the ages of 10 years were 24% as compared to those above 10 years of age being the majority 76%. The total prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 35.6% in the school children that was included in this study. Age and gender were used as the demographic variables in this study but did not show any statistical significance in establishment of any relationship between the variables and this study. The total number of IPIs among male participants for both positive and negative results were 34 (15%) and 56 (24.9) respectively. 46 (20.4%) were positive and 89 (40%) were negative for parasitic infection among their female partners. Giardia lamblia emerged as the most prevalent parasite constituting 15.6% of the total sample. Following closely was Balantidium coli6.2%. Entamoeba histolytica was the third most common parasite 5.3% of the sample and Ascaris lumbricoides had 2.7%. Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica coinfection was 4% of the total while both Giardia lamblia and Ascaris lumbricoides co-infection and Giardia lamblia and Balantidium coli had 0.9% each of the sample. There was no statistical significance between individual risk factors that expose the participants to parasitic infections and IPIs as a whole. The p-values for all the characteristics were above 0.05. Conclusion: IPIs is highly prevalent in the study population. Good hygiene and deworming practices must be enforced among the study population to help reduce the burden of such parasitic infection.