scholarly journals Development of a Decision-Making Approach for Mass Deworming Campaigns on Intestinal Parasites among Primary School Children in Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (E) ◽  
pp. 1422-1433
Author(s):  
Noha Salah Abdelsamie Hassan ◽  
Ghada Nasr Radwan

Intestinal parasitic infections are widespread and cause considerable morbidity. Although mortality from such infections is low, most intestinal parasitic infections interfere with nutrition, growth, development and cognitive progress of children, in addition to interference with productivity and quality of life of adults.   Study Aim: Reduction of intestinal parasites prevalence among primary school children.   Methods: this is a three-phased study; Desk review on current prevention and control methods including mass deworming in the light of global guidelines. Cross-sectional field study on 522 school children from 8 Governorates, and interviews with 168 members of the health team running the deworming campaign at these Governorates in 2017. Development of decision making approach to guide future consideration of mass deworming campaigns   Results: National mass deworming campaigns were effective in reducing prevalence of intestinal worms among primary school children in Egypt, and provided a nationwide awareness on the issue. However, unless these campaigns are combined with sustainable measures of clean drinking water, sewage disposal in schools and households the success of these campaigns in reducing intestinal worms' prevalence will be transient.   Conclusion and Recommendations: The national mass deworming campaigns ranged an alarm bell in the community about dangers of intestinal parasites. However, it's recommended to include other susceptible groups like preschool children, adolescent girls and women of childbearing age while focusing the deworming only on infected individuals. It's also recommended to convert the deworming campaigns into a program to ensure sustainability of resources and continuous monitoring and evaluation of intestinal parasitic burden among populations at risk.   Key Words: Intestinal Parasites – Primary School Children – Mass Deworming Campaigns – Egypt

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-188
Author(s):  
Maru Wassie Yenene ◽  
Abayneh Unasho Gandile

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) have been still quite common in developing countries including Ethiopia, particularly in children with low socio-economic and poor living conditions. Previous studies in Ethiopia have shown high burden of intestinal parasitic infections among the primary school children. The effective prevention and control of parasitic infections require research work based on the identification of intestinal parasites including associated predisposing factors. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of common intestinal parasitic infections and predisposing factors among the asymptomatic primary school children. Methods: A school based cross- sectional study was conducted from September, 2019- January, 2020 and a total of 422 asymptomatic primary school children were involved in the study. Specimens of the stool samples were examined using the standard parasite and ova method. Direct microscopy using saline and iodine wet mount preparation was used to examine the presence of eggs and larvae of helminthes and trophozoites and cysts of protozoan parasites and formalin ether concentration method was used for quality assurance. Structured questionnaires were also used to collect quantitative data on socio-demographic characteristics and predisposing factors. Analysis of the data was made manually using the thematic framework method including descriptive statistics. Results: Among the 422 students (aged 5-14 years) participated in the study, 245(58%) were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. Of the total infected participants, 192(45.5%) were single infections and 53(12.6%) were double infections identified. Seven types of intestinal parasitic infections were identified in the present study. The most prevalent parasite was Giardia lamblia 95(22.5%) followed by hook worm 58(13.7%). Age groups 5-9 years old were more infected, 173 (70.6%) than age groups 10-14 years old 72(29.4%). This result also showed parasitic infections were associated with predisposing factors related to infectious cycles. Concluding Remarks and Recommendations: The present study revealed that there was a high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among students in the targeted primary schools. Therefore, all stakeholders should give attention to raise awareness about the prevention and control mechanisms of intestinal parasitic infections. Moreover, the health services of the local government should develop a habit of mass public health education and deworming intervention to improve the level of parasitic infection and environmental hygiene in the study area.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-146
Author(s):  
Baye Sitotaw ◽  
Yezina Gebeyaw ◽  
Haile Mekonnen

The burden of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) has been a common problem on children in Ethiopia. While communities in Bure town, northwest Ethiopia, are presumed to be exposed to IPIs, no study has been conducted before. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among school children in Bure town by conducting a cross-sectional study from January to June 2019. A total of 430 students were selected using stratified systematic random sampling technique. Direct wet-mount and formal-ether concentration techniques were used for parasitological analysis from stool samples taken from each student. Information about the risk factors was collected using structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. The overall prevalence of IPIs among the children involved in the study was found to be 40% (172/430). Some 37.7% of the students exhibited single parasite infection, 2.1% double and 0.23% triple parasite. Seven species of intestinal parasites were detected, and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar was the most prevalent parasite (22.1%) followed by Giardia lamblia (8.6%), hookworms (6.75%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (3.7%). Hymenolepis nana, Trichuris trichuira and Taenia species were rare  (<1% prevalence each). Knowledge about personal and food hygiene as well as environmental sanitation were the most important predictors for IPIs (P<0.05). Primary school children in Bure town are at high risk of IPIs. Awareness creation on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation is strongly recommended. Keywords: Intestinal parasitic infections; Prevalence; Primary school children; Risk factor; Bure town


Author(s):  
Samuel Kamonge ◽  
Lucy Kamau ◽  
Ngethe Muhoho

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) such as soil transmitted helminths (STH) and protozoa can cause diverse negative effects on human health. The prevalence of IPI in primary school children in Mbeere North sub-county in Embu County is not documented, though there are many cases reported in health centers in the area. The aim of this study was to establish the current prevalence of IPIs in primary school children in Mbeere North sub-county and the factors that perpetuate transmission which is necessary for implementation of suitable control programs in the study area. The study was done among primary school children from nine public schools. Three schools per administrative ward were randomly selected to represent each of the three administrative wards. A total of 414 pupils whose parents/guardians gave informed consent participated in the study, 46 pupils per school. Each participant provided a thumb size of early morning stool. The stool samples were processed by Formol-ether concentration technique and direct wet preparation methods for microscopic identification of intestinal parasites. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on age, sex, sanitation and hygiene practices. The overall point prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections amongst the pupils was 43%. Chi-square (χ²) test was done to determine the relationship between prevalence and the pupils’ age and sex. There was no significant association between prevalence and sex (χ² = 0.184, P = 0.668, df = 1) but a significant association was found between prevalence and age where children 11 years and below were more pre-disposed than those above 11 years old (χ² =4.770, P=0.043, df =1). Similarly, a significant association was found between water source and prevalence of IPI; the parasites infection prevalence decreased when tap water was used and increased when open surface water was used (F = 6.15, P = 0.006). From this study, it is clear that IPIs particularly E. histolytica are a problem in primary school children in Mbeere North Sub-County. There is an urgent need for provision of safe domestic water in the county. Additionally, community education on sanitation and IPI transmission risk factors is urgently required. The information generated in this study is beneficial to the public health service in designing control strategies for areas of high transmission.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 34335-34335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afshin Barazesh ◽  
Moradali Fouladvand ◽  
Rahim Tahmasebi ◽  
Ali Heydari ◽  
Faramarz Kooshesh

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Abah ◽  
F. O. I. Arene

Status of intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in Rivers State, Nigeria, was investigated between January and December 2011. A total of 3,826 stool samples were collected from school children (1,828 males and 1998 females) in 36 primary schools from 13 local government areas of Rivers State. The samples were analyzed using wet saline/iodine and formol ether concentration methods. Of the 3,826 stool samples examined, 1059 (27.66%) were positive for different intestinal parasites, namely,Ascaris lumbricoides(51.78%), hookworm sp. (25.0%),Trichuris trichiura(15.18%),Strongyloides stercoralis(7.14%),Taeniasp. (0.89%), andEnterobius vermicularis(0.01%). The prevalence of the infection was generally higher in males (57.60%) than females (42.40%). The differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Among these intestinal parasites,Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm sp., andTrichuris trichiurawere found in all the 13 local government areas studied whileStrongyloides stercoraliswas found in 12,Taeniasp. in five, andEnterobius vermicularisin only one community in Ahoada Local Government Area. The overall infection rate remains high and would require coordinated deworming of the school children within the state.


Author(s):  
K. Mohammed ◽  
E. Emeagubor ◽  
M. U. Iduh ◽  
M. K. Garba ◽  
S. U. Nataala ◽  
...  

Background: Hookworm is an intestinal parasite of human and is one of the major public health burdens in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that about 3.5 billion people globally and 450 million people are thought to be ill as a result of such infections, the majority being children. Aims: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children Study Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in among patients attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Sokoto state, between March to November, 2017. Methodology: A total of 224 participants were enrolled for the study. Standard parasitological  examination  was carried  out  on  stool  samples  using microscopy followed by formal  ether  concentration  methods Results: Finding revealed, an overall prevalence of 4.5% out of 224 samples examined recorded for both Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection. There was high prevalence rate of Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection among males (5.3%) than females (3.6%).29 (12%) were positive for intestinal parasitic infections. Males  recorded  higher  prevalence  than  the  females  with 19 (11.9%)  and  10 (11.8%)  respectively Conclusion: The total low prevalence rate of Hookworm and other intestinal parasitic infection may be as a result of improved standard of living and awareness of the Hookworm and other intestinal parasites in the study area. The government, non-governmental agencies and private individuals should help in the provision of social amenities to ensure total eradication of these diseases. The teaching of health education in both private schools should be encouraged by the government which will go a long way in  reducing  prevalence and  intensity  of  Hookworm  infections  among  the  study community.


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