More Than Half Prevalence of Protozoan Parasitic Infections Among Diarrheic Outpatients in Eastern Tigrai, Ethiopia, 2019; A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Protozoan infections remain a major public health concern in Ethiopia, which causes malnutrition, protein and iron deficiencies, increment of health costs, hospitalization and long-term deleterious effects. In Tigrai, particularly, in the study area, there are limited literatures on the prevalence of protozoa and associated factors among diarrheic outpatients. Thus, aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of protozoan infections among diarrheic outpatients in Eastern Tigrai.

Methods

Health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Eastern Tigrai, Ethiopia from April to October 2019 among diarrheic outpatient in health facilities of Adigrat. Four hundred one eighteen study participants were included consecutively. The stool samples were examined via direct wet mount following formal-ether concentration technique. Both interviewer based and self-administrated questionnaires were used to collect demographic data and factors associated with protozoan infections. Data were analyzed and computed using BM SPSS statistics version 22.0. P-value=0.05 at 95% confidence interval declared statistically significant.

Results

Out of 418 diarrheic outpatients, the overall prevalence of protozoan infection was 59.3% (248/418). A higher percentage of intestinal protozoan infection was recorded for females 130 (31.1%). Using well water as a source of drinking, poor hand washing habits before eating, not home latrine, dirty and untrimmed fingernails were the most important risk factors identified. E. histolytica complex and Giardia duodenalis were the most predominant protozoan infections detected among diarrheic outpatients.

Conclusion

The present study showed that diarrheic outpatients in the study area were heavily infected with protozoan parasitic infection. E. histolytica complex and Giardia duodenalis were the most predominant protozoans detected among diarrheic outpatients. Using well water as a source of drinking, poor handwashing habit before eating, not having home latrine, dirty and untrimmed fingernails were most important risk factors identified. So, cooperative action and health education on preventive measure are needed to reduce protozoan infections in Tigrai, particularly in the study area. The present study showed that diarrheic outpatients in the study area were heavily infected with protozoan parasitic infection.

Keywords:

• Adigrat
• diarrhea
• Ethiopia
• exposure factors
• intestinal protozoa
• outpatients

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to laboratory professionals of Adigrat town health facilities for their cooperation in specimen collection and laboratory investigation and study participants for their willingness to participate. Besides, we are also thanks for the data collectors.

Abbreviations

CSA, Central Statistical Agency; SOPs, standard operating procedures, SPSS-Statistical product, and service solutions.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Ethical clearance was obtained from research and community service of Adigrat University. After discussing the purpose and relevance of the study, written permission was obtained from the administration of each health facility of Adigrat University before the data collection began.

Data Sharing Statement

To generate findings of this study, data were collected and analyzed based on the stated methods and materials. The original data supporting this finding will be available at any time upon reasonable request from the principal investigator.

Author Contributions

BB designed the study, analyzed data & drafted manuscript; HN, GA, FM, HL, and KT participated in the design of the study, data analysis and revision of the manuscript; HH, BT, NS, GG participated in data collection. All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.