PREVALENCE OF SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMENTHES AMONG PATIENTS VISITING WOLKITE HEALTH CENTRE, SOUTHERN CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Soil transmitted helminthes infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the poorest and most deprived communities Ascaris lumbricoides, Hook worm, Trichuris trichuria and Strongloides stercoralis are the well-known of these parasites which cause morbidity and mortality in developing countries like Ethiopia. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of soil transmitted helminthes infection among patients visiting Wolkite Health Centre, southern central Ethiopia. METHODOLOGY: A cross sectional study conducted from June 05 - 30, 2021 to determine the prevalence of soil transmitted helminthes infection among patients visiting Wolkite Health Centre, southern central Ethiopia. A total of 245 of study participants who came to the Health Centre for stool examination was included, consecutively. Socio-demographic data was collected using structured questionnaires. Stool specimen was collected from each study participant and examined by direct wet mount method. RESULT: In this study a total of 245 study participants were involved. Out of these 112(45.7%) were male and 133(54.3%) were female. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasite was 6.53%. Three species of intestinal parasite were identified. Among these species the highly prevalent one was hook worm (5.3%) followed by Trichuris trichuria (0.81%) and Ascaris lumbricoide (0.40%). In this study (6.53%) of participants were positive for soil transmitted helminthes. CONCLUSION: Soil transmitted helminthes infections are prevailed at all sex, age and residence.