Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Prenatal Care in the Northwestern Ethiopia

• Published in: BioMed research international Vol. 2021; no. 1; p. 3387742
• Main Authors: Alula, Gebre Ayanaw, Munshea, Abaineh, Nibret, Endalkachew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Hindawi 2021; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anemia; Animals; Care and treatment; Colorectal diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Dependent variables; Developing countries; Distribution; Drinking water; Education; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Feces - parasitology; Female; Fetuses; Gastrointestinal diseases; Giardia; Health problems; Health risks; Humans; Independent variables; Infections; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - etiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - parasitology; Intestine; Intestines - parasitology; LDCs; Living conditions; Low income groups; Morbidity; Mortality; Obstetrics; Parasites; Parasites - pathogenicity; Parasitic diseases; Patient outcomes; Population; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Public health; Questionnaires; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Rivers; Rural areas; Sample size; Sampling techniques; Sanitation; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic factors; Soil - parasitology; Variables; Water supply; Womens health; Young Adult; Ethiopia
• ISSN: 2314-6133; 2314-6141; 2314-6141
• DOI: 10.1155/2021/3387742

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are the common health problems in developing countries with low socioeconomic and poor living conditions. IPIs affect millions of pregnant women worldwide and may lead to adverse maternal and fetal effects. The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of IPIs among pregnant women in Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 384 pregnant women was conducted from November 2018 to March 2019. Relevant information on potential risk factors associated with IPIs was gathered using a semistructured questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and examined using wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the possible association between dependent and independent variables. The overall prevalence of IPIs was 36.7%. Seven species of parasites were identified. The most prevalent intestinal protozoan parasite identified was Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (9.6%) followed by Giardia intestinalis (8.9%). The predominant helminth parasite identified was Ascaris lumbricoides (8.6%), followed by hookworm (5.2%), Taenia spp. (3.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.3%), and Schistosoma mansoni (1.04%). Six pregnant women (1.56%) had infection by two parasite species. The odds of IPIs were higher among illiterates (AOR=4.63), lowest monthly income earners (AOR=3.49), primigravida (pregnant for the first time) (AOR=2.04), those who used unboiled well/stream/river water for drinking (AOR=14.55), ate soil (AOR=2.32), and consumed raw vegetables (AOR=1.91). The prevalence of IPIs in the study subjects was substantially high. Thus, screening of the women for IPIs and providing health education during their antenatal care (ANC) visit are recommended to prevent possible adverse maternal and fetal effects resulting from these infections.