Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthic Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Students in Tepi Town, South West Ethiopia

Intestinal helminthic parasites are responsible for considerable morbidity and occasional mortality among infected population all over the world. Their prevalence and specific risk factors was not clearly confirmed especially in African countries including Ethiopia. Based on this fact, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal helminthic infection among students in Tepi town, south west Ethiopia. To conduct this research we were used a cross-sectional study design. Stool samples were collected from all enrolled students and wet mount and formalin-ether sedimentation concentration procedures were used for each helminthes examination. A total of 380 study participants were included in the study, out of which 94 (24.7%) were positive for intestinal helminthic parasites. The commonest helminthes isolated in this study was Ascaris lumbricoides (9.2%) followed by Trichuris trichiura (5.8%). Hookworm and Schistosoma mansoni infection were more prevalent among males than females. The binary logistic regression result showed that sex, cleanness of the finger nails, school, family size, protective shoe, and religion were significantly associated with intestinal helminthic infection. The overall prevalence rate of helminthes observed in the present study was 24.7%. The commonest helminthes was A. lumbricoides (9.2%) followed by T. trichiura (5.8%). General health educations among those risky groups are highly recommended in order to reduce its prevalence and to formulate appropriate intervention.