Intestinal parasitism among Jiren elementary and junior secondary students in South-Western Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional survey on intestinal parasites was conducted in Jiren Elementary et Junior Secondary School; Jimma. A total of 301 stool specimens were collected by systematic random sampling from a total of 1626 population. The stools were examined for ova and parasites by direct saline suspension (wet mount) method. The result showed high prevalence rate of parasitic infection (68.4 percent). A total of 10 species were identified among which Ascaris lumbricoides was the leading (52.2 percent) followed by Trichuris trichiura (18.6 percent); while Schistosoma mansoni was the least (0.3 percent). No statistically significant difference was seen in the prevalence rate of intestinal parasites by sex; (P.0.01). However; there is significant association between water source for drinking and parasitoses; (P;0.01); where; unprotected source of water favouring infection of all infected. Most of the infected children (92.2 percent) were asymptomatic. It is suggested that affective PHC strategies; such as health education in schools; expansion of school health services and chemotherapy with broad spectrum antihelminthics should be implemented