TRENDS AND SEASONAL PATERNS IN INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDED GUNCHIRE PRIMERY HOSPITAL, GUNCHIRE ETHIOPIA: A THREE YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: Intestinal parasitic infection is a serious public health problem in developing countries particularly is the major cause of morbidity in Africa, including Ethiopia. Its rate of transmission is mainly favored by socio economic, environmental sanitation and geographical factors. Objective: to assess trends and seasonal patterns in intestinal parasites among patients seeking stool examination at primary health facilities in gun chore primary hospital in the past three consecutive years (Jan. 1, 2019Dec 30, 2021 G C).Method: A retrospective study was conducted to determine the trend of intestinal parasite prevalence from laboratory registration books over the past three years at Gunchire primary hospital. The data was coded, cleaned and analysed by using statistical packages (SPSS version 20).The association between intestinal parasitic infection and different demographic variables was determined by using chi-square test Result: 11,417 records were reviewed in GPH laboratory from 2019 to 2021 G C to determine the trends and seasonal patterns of intestinal parasites. A total of 4414(38.7%) male and 7003 (61.3%) female records were viewed from the laboratory registration books with minimum age one day and maximum age 95. Of the total 11,417; 2836(24.84%) were infected with intestinal parasite and from the total 2836 infected 1097(38.7%) male and 1739(61.3%) were female. The most dominant intestinal parasite in all three years was histolytica and the least prevalent parasite was S stercoralis .Conclusion: Seasonal fluctuations in the prevalence and dominance of protozoa intestinal parasitic infections were observed