Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren in Primary Schools at Sheger City Sebeta Sub City, Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a significant public health concern, especially among school-age children in developing countries. These infections can lead to malnutrition, growth retardation, and impaired cognitive development if left untreated. Understanding the prevalence and associated risk factors of IPIs among primary school students is crucial for implementing effective intervention measures and improving the health and well-being of this vulnerable population. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and identify the associated risk factors among primary school children in Sheger City Sebeta Sub City, Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. The study was conducted from March to June 2023 and involved a sample size of 384 children. The data collected provides insights into the frequency of deworming supplementation, awareness of intestinal parasites, and the prevalence of protozoa and helminth infections. The findings revealed that during the specified time frame, no deworming supplementation was provided to the children. While some children reported being aware of intestinal parasites, the majority did not receive regular deworming supplementation. the majority of children (86.7%) tested negative for any protozoa infections. However, 8.1% of the children tested positive for Giardia, and 5.2% tested positive for Entamoeba histolytica. When examining helminth infections, the majority of children (87.8%) tested negative for any helminth infections. These results emphasize the urgent need for implementing deworming programs and interventions to address and control the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in the Sheger City Sebeta Sub-City area. Such interventions are essential to improve the health and well-being of schoolchildren by reducing the burden of these infections and their associated adverse effects, including growth stunting, malnutrition, anemia, fatigue, and impaired school attendance and cognitive performance