Water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions and prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among primary school children in Dessie City, Ethiopia
Authors: Aschale Awoke , Adane Metadel , Getachew Melaku , Faris Kebede , Gebretsadik Daniel , Sisay Tadesse , Dewau Reta , Chanie Muluken Genetu , Muche Amare , Zerga Aregash Abebayehu , Lingerew Mistir , Gebrehiwot Mesfin , Berhanu Leykun , Ademas Ayechew , Abebe Masresha , Ketema Gebremariam , Yirsaw Mengistie , Bogale Kassahun , Ayele Fanos Yeshanew , Melaku Mequannent Sharew , Amsalu Erkihun Tadesse , Bitew Gedamnesh , Keleb Awoke , Berihun Gete , Natnael Tarikuwa , Hassen Seada , Yenuss Mohammed , Dagne Mengesha , Feleke Alelgne , Kloos Helmut 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundIntestinal parasitosis is a major public health problem that affects the health of primary school children in low- and middle-income countries where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions are deficient. Since there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and associated factors of this problem among primary school children in Dessie City in Ethiopia, this study was designed to address these gaps.MethodsA school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 stratified-sampled primary school children in five primary schools at Dessie City from April to June 2018. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, an observation checklist and laboratory analysis of stool samples. Stool specimen from each study participant was collected using clean, properly labeled and leak-proof stool cup. A portion of stool from each study participant collected sample was processed using saline wet mount technique and examined by microscope. The remaining specimens were preserved with 10% formalin and transported to Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital laboratory to be processed by using formol-ether concentration technique. Then, slide smears were prepared from each processed stool specimen and finally, it was microscopically examined with 10x as well as 40x objectives for the presence or absence of intestinal parasites. Factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis were determined using binary logistic regression model at 95% CI (confidence interval). Thus, bivariate (COR [crude odds ratio]) and multivariable (AOR [adjusted odds ratio]) logistic regression analyses were carried out. From the multivariable analysis, variables having ap-value of less than 0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis among primary school children.Main findingsThe overall prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was found to be 16.0% (95% CI: 12.5–19.4%), of these, 50.8% were positive for protozoa, 32.2% for helminth infections and 16.9% for double co-infections.Entamoeba histolyticawas the most prevalent parasite (29.2%), followed byGiardia lamblia(21.5%),Ascaris lumbricoides(18.5%),Hymenolepis nana (9.2%) andEnterobius vermicularis(4.6%). Prevalence rates were similar among government (16.3%) and private (15.7%) school children. Water consumption was less than 5 liters per capita per day in 4 of the 5 schools. Thirty-eight (9.3%) of primary school students reported that they practiced open defecation. About two-thirds (285, 70.0%) said they always washed their hands after defecation. Mother’s education (illiterate) (AOR =3.3; 95% CI: 1.20–9.37),father’s education (illiterate) (AOR =3.9;95% CI: 1.40–10.82), fathers who could read and write (AOR =3.3;95% CI:1.25–7.86), handwashing before meal (sometimes) (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.11–4.17) and poor knowledge of WASH (AOR = 9.3; 95% CI: 2.17–16.70) were statistically associated with presence of intestinal parasitic infections.ConclusionWe concluded that the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in the study area among Grades 4–8 primary school children had public health significance. Factors significantly associated with intestinal parasitosis among primary school children’s were illiterate mothers and fathers, irregular handwashing of children before meals, and poor knowledge of WASH. Health education to improve students’ WASH knowledge and mass deworming for parasites are recommended as preventive measures; and improvements to the quality of WASH facilities in primary schools are strongly recommended to support these measures.