PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PROTOZOA, HELMINTHES, AND COCCIDIAN INFECTIONS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THALA’A DISTRICT AT AMRAN GOVERNORATE, YEMEN

Abstract

Background and objectives: The prevalence of intestinal parasite infection, which can range between 18% and 90%, is one of the most frequently reported diseases in Yemen and poses a serious health issue for schoolchildren. In Thala’a District, Amran Governorate, Yemen, the study's main goal was to ascertain the prevalence of intestinal parasite infection among primary school students. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to April 2022 among 400 schoolchildren, in the age groups 7-12 years. All the children were residents of the city of Thala’a. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Stool samples were examined for intestinal parasites according to standard laboratory methods. Results: The children's ages ranged from 7 to 12 years, with a mean±SD of 9.52 ± 2.9 years. The results showed that 136/400 (34%) of the tested children were positive for intestinal parasite infection with a higher prevalence of specific intestinal worms (50.4%) than protozoa (33.3%) and coccidian infection (16.3%). The rate of infection alone was also higher than that of multiple parasitic infections (19.3% vs. 14.8%). The highest number of intestinal parasites was 50/400 (12.5%) for Ascaris lumbricoides, and 49/400 (12.25%) for Entameba histolytica followed by 9.8% for Giardia lamblia, 11.5% for Entrobius vermicularis, 6.5% for Cryptosporidium species, 6.5% for Hymenolepis nana, 2% for Schistosoma mansoni, and 0.8% for Trichuris trichiura. Considering the associated factors, boys had a higher infection rate than girls (50% vs. 24.2%) with an OR of 2.6, CI =1.7–3.9 (p < 0.001). A higher rate was also recorded in older children (41%) with an odds ratio of 1.6 (p=0.03). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in Thala’a city, and various control measures are required to control and prevent intestinal parasites among school children. Peer Review History: Received: 3 March 2023; Revised: 22 April; Accepted: 27 June 2023, Available online: 15 July 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Rola Jadallah, Arab American University, Palestine, rola@aauj.edu Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, tamer_hassan@pharm.suez.edu.eg Dr. Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan, drwadhsheikh1974@gmail.com