Amoebiasis in Ethiopia

In a countrywide survey of amoebiasis, a total of 12,457 persons in 97 communities was stool examined by formol-ether concentration technique. The overall prevalences of Entamoeba histolytica infections, as measured by rate of cyst-passers, in schoolchildren and non-school communities were 15.0% and 3.5%, respectively. Slightly more females (18.4%) than males (14.2%) were infected among schoolchildren (p < 0.05) but the difference was not significant among non-school communities (p > 0.05). There was a tendency but not a statistically significant decline of cyst-excretion with increasing age. So far as our survey goes, the influence of altitude on the prevalence of amoebiasis appeared not to be significant. Health education, improvement of sanitation and personal hygiene are suggested as realistic measures to reduce the transmission of this parasite.