Prevalence and Associated Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Preschool Children in Sekota Town, Wag-Himra Zone, Northern Ethiopia; a community Based Cross-sectional study

Background: Intestinal parasitic infection triggered considerable gastrointestinal morbidity, malnutrition and mortality worldwide, particularly among young children in developing countries. In magnitude, Helminthiasis affect 10%–20% of pre-school children worldwide. In addition, small children below 5 years are uniquely susceptible to intestinal parasitic infestation in the poor community because of their childhood behavior like playing with soil and putting hand to mouth habit. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infection among pre-school children in Sekota town, Ethiopia. Methods: a community based cross-sectional study was completed on 378 preschool children in Sekota town from February 15 – March 10/2019. Stool specimens were collected and examined for intestinal parasites using wet mount and formyl-ether concentration techniques. The risk factors of intestinal parasite were also assessed using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The data were entered and analyze using Epi-data version 4.1 and SPSS-version 23 statistical software respectively. Both bivariable and multivariable analysis was carried out. Potential co-linearity was considered and tested. Variables with P-value less than 0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in Sekota town on wet mount and concentration techniques was 83 (21.9%) and 113 (29.9%) respectively. On multivariable analysis deworming (AOR, (95% CI), (2.5(1.5-4.3), presence of animal in the living room (AOR, (95% CI) (3.1(1.8-5.3), and occupation (AOR, (95% CI) (3.4 (1.1-10.0) were increase the odds of intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in Sekota town is high, which is a public health problem. The risk factors that contribute for intestinal parasitic infection in this study are preventable and modifiable. These are deworming, having animals in the living room, and occupation. Therefore, care should emphasis on periodical deworming, and campaign either through health education or visiting the home of the community. Whenever possible financially, double and above rooms would be recommended for the community of the town, in particular the animals should be lived in isolated rooms. Key Words: Intestinal Parasites, Preschool, Sekota Town, Prevalence, Risk Factors