Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Their Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Center at Woreilu Health Center, Woreilu, Northeast Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) affect millions of pregnant women worldwide and if left untreated can cause adverse effects for mothers, fetuses, and newborns. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women in Woreilu, Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Woreilu Health Center from October 2018 to February 2019. A convenient sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The data related to the sociodemographic information and associated risk factors were collected by the interview technique, and fresh stool samples were collected from each pregnant woman. The microscopic examination of the stool samples was done by using direct wet mount preparations in normal saline and formol ether concentration techniques. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used. A p value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 331 pregnant women were included. The mean ± standard deviation of age of the participants was 26.3 ± 5.96 years ranging between 16 and 43 years. The overall prevalence of IPIs was 144 (43.5%) with the predominance of E. histolytica/dispar (44.4%) followed by A. lumbricoides (15.7%). Being a student (AOR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.01-11.09, p = 0.047), second trimester (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.46-10.64, p = 0.007), third trimester (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.15-9.6, p = 0.027), and using spring water for drinking (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.62-5.22, p ≤ 0.001) were significantly associated with IPIs. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of IPIs was high in this study. Being a student, second and third trimester, and using spring water for drinking were associated factors with IPIs. Therefore, improving the sanitation of the students and providing clean drinking water for the women should be strengthened. Screening women and providing health education during their antenatal care (ANC) visits are also recommended.