Factors associated with intestinal parasitic infection among school children in Sirt, Libya

ABSTRACT

A parasitological survey of 601 school children aged 7-14 years in the city of Sirt was carried out. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their association with sociodemographic factors and hygienic habit. Data collected via questionnaires. Fecal samples were examined by wet film, Iodine preparation. - concentrations methods and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infection among the students was 63.6%. Co infection with two or three parasites was seen in 11.4%. The three most common were Giardia lamblia 28.8%, Entamo‚ba histolytica 16.3% and Entamoeba coli 6.3%. Parasitic prevalence was higher in boys, younger age in children with non educated mother and in children who sometimes wash hands after defecation .According to the results, mother education and personal hygiene of the students were the significant associations