Abstract

Lack of sanitary facilities and associated poor personal and environmental hygiene predispose people to the risk of intestinal parasite infections Thus, the objective of this survey was to assess the prevalence of intestinal helminth infections and associated risk factors among primary school children in selected kebeles of Enderta district, Tigray, northern Ethiopia. A cross sectional parasitological study consisting of 480 school children was conducted between February and March, 2011. Interview and microscopic examination of stool specimens of the children were made. Data was entered and analyzed by statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 soft ware. The overall prevalence for at least one intestinal helminthic infection was 41.46% (199/480). The most dominant helminths were Schistosoma mansoni (23.13%), Hymenolepis nana (11.46%), Ascaris lumbricoides (5.83%) and Enterobius vermicularis (5.42%). Male children were at high risk for intestinal helminth infection than females (P < 0.014). Hand washing habit before meal (P = 0.0001), cleanness of fingernails (P = 0.0001) and swimming habit of the children (P = 0.0001) were significantly associated with intestinal helminth infections. Provision of health education, improving personal hygiene, potable drinking water supply as well as school based deworming should be the major focus area of the regional as well as Federal Health institutions.

Key words: Intestinal helminths, prevalence, risk factors, school children, Tigray.