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Investigation of Factors Affecting Frequency of Intestinal Parasites in Primary School Students in an Urban Region in
İnci Arıkan1, Aynur Gülcan2, Saime Ergen Dıbeklıoğlu3
1Department of Public Health, Medicine Faculty, Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey.
Insights
Intestinal parasitic diseases (IPD) affected 18.3% of primary school students, with higher rates in lower socioeconomic areas. Maternal education was linked to lower IPD incidence, highlighting the need for health education.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Intestinal parasitic diseases (IPD) are a significant global health concern, particularly in children.
- Socioeconomic factors and maternal knowledge play crucial roles in the transmission and prevention of IPD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of IPD among primary school students.
- To identify factors associated with IPD in this population.
- To assess maternal knowledge and practices regarding IPD.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 471 students aged 5-11 years from three randomly selected primary schools.
- Data collection included questionnaires for parents and laboratory analysis of stool samples.
- Stratified sampling was used, considering socioeconomic levels of school regions.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of IPD was 18.3%, with significantly higher rates (27.6%) in a school from a lower socioeconomic area.
- E. vermicularis was the most common parasite (12.1%).
- IPD prevalence decreased with increasing maternal education levels, and maternal knowledge scores were lower in children with IPD.
Conclusions:
- Health education programs focusing on risk factors are essential for the early detection and treatment of childhood parasitic infections.
- Targeted interventions in lower socioeconomic areas and improved maternal education are crucial for controlling IPD.
Aim:
The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of intestinal parasitic diseases (IPD) and associated factors in primary school students and to assess the knowledge and practices of mothers about these diseases.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study carried out in January-March 2014 in 471 students aged 5-11 years, studying at 3 schools randomly selected from the city centre regions with different socioeconomic levels. Stratified sampling method was used in the present study and the data were collected in two stages. In the first stage, parents were informed about the study and pre-prepared questionnaire forms were used to collect the data about the students and parents. In the second stage, laboratory analyses of collected stool samples were performed.
Results:
The total prevalence of IPD was 18.3%, it was higher in the primary school located in a region with a lower socioeconomic level compared to other two schools (27.6% vs. 14.4%, and 10%, respectively). Most commonly detected parasite was E. vermicularis (12.1%). The prevalence of IPD was not associated with the classroom, gender, number of siblings, and the use of purified drinking water at home, while it was found to decrease with the increasing maternal education level. The maternal knowledge level score was 12.01±4.29 vs. 13.41±3.94 in students with and without IPD, respectively. With regard to the methods used to treat IPD, 23% of the mothers reported that they are using conventional methods.
Conclusion:
The health education programmes about the associated risk factors are of great importance for early detection and treatment of childhood parasitic infections.
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