Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction:- Intestinal parasitic infections are double burden for pregnant women
affecting the health of both pregnant women and their offspring. Most studies were done in
Ethiopia about intestinal parasitic infections focus on school children and food handlers
even studies done on pregnant women mostly identified only helminths. However, the other
intestinal parasitic infections have not been studied so far in the study area.
Objective:- To assess the proportion of intestinal parasitic infections and associated
factors on pregnant women attending antenatal care in public health institutions Simada,
Northwest Ethiopia.
Method:-An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in simada district. A
systematic random sampling technique was used to select 415 study participants from
public health institutions in the district. A structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered
questionnaire and stool sample laboratory examination were used to collect data. The
bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression model was employed for analysis. Pvalue < 0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance.
Results: - A total of 403 pregnant women were enrolled in this study with response rate of
97%. The mean (±SD) age of 27.55 (±5.6) years (range 18–44 years). Most of study
participant were rural residents 293(72.3%). Intestinal parasitic infection was observed in
102 pregnant women and the overall proportion was 0.25(95 %( CI, 0.21-0.30). Out of
which 64 cases (0.16) were caused by protozoan whereas 4 cases (0.009) were caused
by helminthes and 32 cases (0.084) were caused by mixed infections. Pregnant women
lacking latrine and proper waste disposal were 2.2 and 1.9 times more likely to be infected
with intestinal Parasitosis than their counterparts ([AOR, 95% CI, 2.213 (1.259, 3.891)],
[AOR, 95% CI,1.851 (1.099, 3.117)] respectively.
Conclusion: - The proportion of intestinal parasitic infections was high in the study area
where pregnant women were mostly affected by Giardia lamblia and mixed infection. The
absence of latrine and appropriate waste disposalwere identified as independent risk
factors that significantly increase intestinal parasitic infections in pregnant women.Better
toCreate awareness on latrine construction and proper waste disposal for community.
Keywords: - Proportion, Intestinal parasitic infection, Pregnant women, Simada district.
