Intestinal parasitoses among under-fives in two communities in Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was studied among under-fives from two communities: Metehara Sugar Estate, central Ethiopia, and Jigga town, northwest Ethiopia. In the former, 89% of the children were infected with one or more of 11 species of parasites while in the latter 82% were infected with one or more of 12 species. In Jigga town, Ascaris lumbricoides (67%) and hookworms (53%) were the dominant parasites while in the Metehara Sugar Estate A. lumbricoides and Schistosoma mansoni were the dominant ones. Overall, the mean number of parasite species per infected child in Jigga town was 2.6 and was significantly higher than that in Metehara which was 1.5 (P<0.05). The possible factors responsible for the differences between the two communities, the possible adverse effects of the parasites on the nutritional and health status of the children and the actions that need to be taken are discussed. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1998;12(1):63-67]