Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and related factors among school children in Semnan province (2005)

Introduction: The current study was carried out to determine prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and related factors among the pupils of nurseries and primary schools in Semnan province. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 764 stool specimens were collected by the method of stratified-randomized sampling for stool examination. The specimens were examined by both simple smear and formalin-ether concentration methods. In addition, other data were collected through questioner and analyzed by the SPSS program and logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was %13.7 (%10.2 in nurseries and %14.2 primary schools), meanwhile, Giardia lambelia had the greatest prevalence (%8.4), followed by Entamoeba Coli (%3.2). Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPI) in boys (%15.6) was greater than girls (% 11.9), also the prevalence of IPI in the families with one child was significantly lower than the families with more children. Therefore, the families with 2 or 3 children and with more than 3 children were respectively 5.28 and 8.47 times more at risk of IPI, compared to the families with a child. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the occupation of pupils’ father and the prevalence of IPI, as the pupils that their fathers were building worker were 4.19 times more at risk of parasite infections, compared to the pupils that their fathers were clerk. The risk of IPI was 1.75 times more among the pupils who using fruits and vegetables that were washed only by water, compared to the pupils who using fruits and vegetables that were disinfected by antiseptic solutions in their home. With respect to the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections, no significant difference was observed between different cites and schools (with and without health instructors) of Semnan province. Conclusion: Since, Giardia lambelia, as a pathogenic parasite, was the most common parasite infection in Semnan province, education of the mothers and pupils about personal hygiene and prevention methods of IPI by health instructors and health centers could help to reduce the rate of intestinal parasite infections.