Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk factors among School children in Adigrat town, Northern Ethiopia

Intestinal parasitic infections are among the major public health and socioeconomic problems in developing
countries. A cross sectional parasitological examination was conducted on 309 school children to assess the
prevalence of Intestinal parasitic infections and to explore the possible associated risk factors among school
children in Adigrat town. Stool sample was collected and examined for Intestinal parasitic infections by
formal ether concentration technique. Moreover, data on socio-demographic and sanitation factors were
collected using questionaries and interviews. Out of the total examined children, 157(50.81%) were found to
be infected with one or more intestinal parasites. Higher infection prevalence was in females (52.94%) than
in males (49.13%). The highest prevalence was in children ages from 10 to 12 (54.8%) followed aged > 13
(52.94%) and 5 to 9 years old (47.8%), respectively. Frequently encountered parasites were A. lumbricoides
(19.1%), Hook worm (10.03%), S. stercolaris (7.77%), E. hitolytica (4.5%), E. vermicularis, (3.56%),
T.trichiura (3.24%) and Giardia lamblia (2.29%). Multiple logistic regressions revealed that not practice of
fingernail trim; unprotected well water source and rural residence were independently associated with
infection. Intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent among the school children in Adigrat town. Therefore,
control measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, water supply and
treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites in the study area.