Factors associated with intestinal parasites among school going children in Lodwar Municipality, Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Infection by intestinal parasites is a serious health problem affecting an estimated 400 million school age children worldwide. The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasites among children in 10 schools within Lodwar Municipality in Turkana County, Kenya.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out amongst a sample size of 310 school going children randomly selected from 10 schools. The data collection included background data of participants and laboratory procedures on faecal specimens collected to determine the various intestinal parasites. The data collated was analysed using SPSS for windows version 13.0.1. Chi square was used to determine associations between the various variables.

Results: This study recruited 529 participants, of which 43.5% were women and 56.5% were men. Cyst of Entamoeba histolytica was found to be the most common parasite in the samples tested with a prevalence of 76.6%, followed by trophozoites of Giardia lamblia with prevalence of 13.1%, ova of Taenia spp with a prevalence of 5.5% whereas trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica, ova of Ascaris lumbricoides, cyst of Giardia lamblia, and ova of Taenia saginata had a prevalence of below 5%. This current study found no strong association between the source of water and the occurrence of intestinal parasites.

Conclusion: Helmithes infections is still a public health concern in Turkana County which, if unchecked, could affect child growth and development. There is need for both the National and County governments to mount series of campaigns and interventions to deworm all children of intestinal infections especially at the family level among the nomadic Turkana community whose environments and lifestyles are fertile grounds for helmithes.