Prevalence of Geohelminthes Infection and its Predisposing Factors among Treatments Seeking Patients at Jimma Town Health Centers Jimma Zone South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Geohelmenthes infections cause serious public health problem in Ethiopia. They were more prevalent among population with low income, poor personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, overcrowding and limited access to clean water. Objective: The Study Was aimed to estimating the prevalence of geohelmenthes infection and its predisposing factors among treatments seeking patients at Jimma health centers. Methods and Materials: Cross sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of geohelmenthes infection and predisposing factors among treatments seeking patients from June to August 2018 at Jimma health centers Data collected analyzed by SPSS statistical software was used to analysis data. Association between variables was analyzed using uni-variation and multi-variation logistic regression and p-values. The result was presented with odd ratio. P-value <or=0.05 would take as the acceptable level significance. Results: Regarding to respondents residential area, patients living in urban area had 2.290 times higher prevalence of geohelmenthes infection as compared to patients living in rural area. Respondents who had dirty materials in fingernails were 63.256 times highly contribute for geohelmenthes infection as compared to do not having dirty materials in fingernails .Regarding to unwashed or uncooked vegetable or fruit eating habits, respondents uses unwashed or uncooked vegetable or fruit had 79.16 times highly contribute for geohelmenthes infections as compared those do not uses unwashed or un cooked vegetable or fruit.The overall prevalence of geohelmenthes 21.8% such as Ascaris lumbricoides 55 (14.3%), T. trichiura 16 (4.2%), Hookworm 10 (2.6%) and strongyloides 3 (0.8%). Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of geohelminthic infection was 21.8% in this study. Different between geohelminthes infection and poor hand washing practice before meal and after latrine, eating uncooked or unwashed vegetables and fruit, Trimming finger nails, Place of residence, and shoe wearing practice, and all associated factors were statically significant. Therefore, health education and development in sanitary infrastructure could achieve long-term and sustainable reductions in helminthes prevalence.