Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Intestinal parasitic infections among children aged 12-59 months in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda

  • Evariste Hakizimana (Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ju Yeong Kim (Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Singeun Oh (Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Moonsoo Yoon (Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Tai-Soon Yong (Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2023.04.10
  • Accepted : 2023.05.03
  • Published : 2023.08.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections are a public health burden and a major cause of illness in developing countries. The diseases lead to various health threats, including growth retardation and mental health-related disorders, especially in children. We assessed the risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections among children aged 12-59 months residing in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from 1,048 children aged 12-59 months whose stool samples were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites and whose results were registered in the laboratory information system in 2020. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in children aged 12-59 months was 53.2%. The dominant parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (13.1%), followed by Giardia lamblia (10.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (7.9%), Trichuris trichiura (6.5%), hookworms (1.7%), and Taenia species (1.4%). A significant association was observed between intestinal parasites and the literacy of mothers or children's caregivers (odds ratio (OR)=5.09, P<0.001). Children from farming households were 2.8-fold more likely to contract intestinal parasitic infections than those from nonfarming households (OR=2.8, P<0.001). A significant association was also observed between intestinal parasites and food safety (OR=4.9, P<0.001). Intestinal parasitic infections were significantly associated with hand hygiene practices after using the toilet and washing fresh fruits before eating (P<0.001). The information gathered will help public health providers and partners develop control plans in highly endemic areas in Rwanda.

Keywords

References

  1. Farrell SH, Coffeng LE, Truscott JE, Werkman M, Toor J, et al. Investigating the effectiveness of current and modified World Health Organization guidelines for the control of soil-transmitted helminth infections. Clin Infect Dis 2018;66(suppl):S253-S259. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy002 
  2. Mulatu G, Zeynudin A, Zemene E, Debalke S, Beyene G. Intestinal parasitic infections among children under five years of age presenting with diarrhoeal diseases to two public health facilities in Hawassa, South Ethiopia. Infect Dis Poverty 2015;4:49. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-015-0081-x 
  3. Campbell SJ, Nery SV, D'Este CA, Gray DJ, McCarthy JS, et al. Water, sanitation and hygiene-related risk factors for soil-transmitted helminth and Giardia duodenalis infections in rural communities in Timor-Leste. Int J Parasitol 2016;46(12):771-779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.07.005 
  4. Arani AS, Alaghehbandan R, Akhlaghi L, Shahi M, Lari AR. Prevalence of intestinal parasites in a population in south of Tehran, Iran. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2008;50(3):145-149. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0036-46652008000300003 
  5. Okyay P, Ertug S, Gultekin B, Onen O, Beser E. Intestinal parasites prevalence and related factors in school children, a western city sample-Turkey. BMC publ Health 2004;4(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-4-64 
  6. Fauziah N, Aviani JK, Agrianfanny YN, Fatimah SN. Intestinal parasitic infection and nutritional status in children under five years old: A Systematic Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022;7(11):371. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7110371 
  7. El-Sherbini GT, Abosdera MM. Risk factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among children. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 2013;43(1):287-294. https://doi.org/10.12816/0006385 
  8. Kantzanou M, Karalexi MA, Vrioni G, Tsakris A. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among children in Europe over the last five years. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021;6(3):160. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed6030160 
  9. Bdir S, Adwan G. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Jenin Governorate, Palestine: a 10-year retrospective study. Asian Pac J Trop Med 2010;3(9):745-747. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1995-7645(10)60179- 
  10. Khan W, Nisa NU, Khan A. Prevalence and risk factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. J Food Nutr Res 2017;5:331-336. https://doi.org/10.12691/jfnr-5-5-7 
  11. Bakarman MA, Hegazi MA, Butt NS. Prevalence, characteristics, risk factors, and impact of intestinal parasitic infections on school children in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2019;9(1):81. https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.190219.001 
  12. Chelkeba L, Mekonnen Z, Alemu Y, Emana D. Epidemiology of intestinal parasitic infections in preschool and school-aged Ethiopian children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 2020;20(1):1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8222-y 
  13. Karshima SN. Prevalence and distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Nigerian children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Infect Dis Poverty 2018;7(04):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-018-0451-2 
  14. Torgerson PR, Devleesschauwer B, Praet N, Speybroeck N, Willingham AL, et al. World Health Organization estimates of the global and regional disease burden of 11 foodborne parasitic diseases, 2010: a data synthesis. PLoS Med 2015;12(12):e1001920. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001920 
  15. World Health Organization. Soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Number of children treated 2007-2008: update on the 2010 global target. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2010;85:141-147. 
  16. Chirdan OO, Akosu JT, Adah SO. Intestinal parasites in children attending day care centers in Jos, Central Nigeria. Niger J Med 2010;19(2). https://doi.org/10.4314/njm.v19i2.56526 
  17. Nipa NJ, Akter N, Hira HM, Akter F, Jahan D, et al. Intestinal parasitic infections among the pediatric patients in a metropolitan city of bangladesh with emphasis on cryptosporidiosis. Cureus 2022;14(7):e23316. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.26927 
  18. Okoh ME, Nyinoh IW, Utume LN, Terzunwe TT. Prevalence of ascariasis among children in makurdi, benue state, nigeria. J Parasitol Res 2014;21(5):69-73. https://doi.org/10.9734/jamb/2021/v21i530353 
  19. Mohamed MM, Ahmed AI, Salah ET. Frequency of intestinal parasitic infections among displaced children in Kassala Town. Khartoum Med J 2012;2(1):175-177. 
  20. Eyayu T, Wubie A, Kiros T, Tiruneh T, Damtie S, et al. Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and its associated factors among children aged 6 to 59 months attending Mekane Eyesus Primary Hospital, Northcentral Ethiopia. Glob Pediatr Health 2021;8:2333794X211036605. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X211036605