REVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF INTESTINAL HELMINTHIASIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN JIMMA ZONE A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Globally, millions of people suffer from intestinal parasitic infections. These infectionsare among the most common resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality. In Ethiopia andparticularly in Jimma and its surroundings intestinal parasitic infections are highly prevalent because oflow living standards and poor environmental sanitation. The objective of the survey was to determine theprevalence and predictors of intestinal parasitosis among school children in four woredas of Jimmazone surrounding Gilgel gibe hydraulic dam and serve as a base line data to help evaluate healthpromoting activities for the future and monitor those already delivered to the community.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in October, 2008 in four Woredas of Jimma zonebordering Gilgel Gibe Dam. Children attending grades 1-8 in the schools located within 10 Kms oftheDam in the four bordering woredas and those living 30 Kms away from the shore line were the studysubjects. Six hundred twenty four and 321 children were selected from the schools around Gilgel Gibedam and from the schools in Bulbul, respectively. Data on background of participant was collected andstool specimen collected and processed. Data were filtered and entered into computer then analyzedusing SPSS for windows version 13.0.1.RESULTS: Of the 937 selected individuals, 855 participated in the study giving a response rate of 91.2%.The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was 47.1% where 174 (20%) had Ascaris lumbricoides mono-infection;4.3% had dual infection involving Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm and 0.2% had tripleinfection but all the infections were of light intensity. In addition, there was no association betweenprevalence of intestinal parasitosis with availability or regular use of latrine and clinical symptoms.CONCLUSION: The prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasites in the study area is lower thannational, urban and rural setting of Jimma zone. These might be due to a better awareness of the studycommunity on prevention of intestinal parasitosis following increased health promoting activities in thearea, delivered through various activities of Jimma Public health training program.KEYWORDS: intestinal parasitosis, Gilgel-Gibe, Southwest Ethiopia