College of Medicine and Health Sceinces

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College of Medicine and Health Sceinces

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Author: search.filters.author.ABDIRSEMED BEDEWI

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    CO-INFECTION OF ENTERIC PROTOZOA AND BACTERIA, AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER-FIVE DIARRHEIC CHILDREN VISITING WORABE HOSPITAL, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA
    (Wolkite University, 2025-01-30) ABDIRSEMED BEDEWI
    Background: Diarrheal diseases remain a leading cause of illness and death among childrenunder five in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Enteric pathogens such as Giardialamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Salmonella, and Shigella spp. are common causes of childhooddiarrhea in these regions. However, data on their sources and co-infection patterns were limited. Objective: This study aimed to assess the co-infection rates of enteric protozoa and bacteria andidentify associated risk factors in children under five presenting with diarrhea at WorabeHospital, central Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2024. Stool sampleswere collected from 250 children under five with diarrhea and analyzed using parasitologicaland bacteriological techniques to detect the presence of pathogens. Results: Out of 250 stool samples analyzed, 72 (28.7%) tested infected for intestinal protozoa,and 33 (13.2%) were infected for enteropathogenic bacteria. Co-infections were identified in 20cases (8.0%). The most frequent co-infections included G. lamblia with Salmonella spp. (2.8%),G. lamblia with Shigella spp. (2.0%), E. histolytica/dispar with Shigella spp. (2.4%), and E.histolytica/dispar with Salmonella spp. (0.8%). Factors significantly associated with co-infectionincluded large family size (p=0.042), guardians with untrimmed fingernails (p=0.013), notwashing vegetables before feeding children (p=0.003), guardians not washing hands beforefeeding children (p=0.02), presence of domestic animals in the house (p=0.017), lack of a homelatrine (p=0.001), and use of unprotected drinking water (p=0.004). Conclusions and Recommendations: The study highlights that intestinal protozoa and entericbacteria, as well as co-infections, are major contributors to diarrhea in children. Key riskfactors include poor personal hygiene, untrimmed fingernails, and inadequate environmentalsanitation. It is recommended that public health efforts focus on raising awareness aboutpersonal and environmental hygiene to reduce the burden of diarrheal diseases.