Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasites among Diarrheic Under-Five Children Attending Bahir Dar and Han Health Centers, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infection is one of the major public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. The problem is highly pronounced in children under five years of age who are not able to adhere to prevention and control precautions. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) and associated factors among diarrheic children under five years of age attending Bahir Dar and Han Health Centers, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among diarrheic children less than five years of age at Bahir Dar and Han Health Centers, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. A total of 221 diarrheic children less than five years of age were recruited using the convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested structured Amharic version questionnaire after obtaining informed consent from children's parents or guardians. Approximately 1 mL of fresh fecal specimen was collected and subjected to direct saline wet mount microscopy. All data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and transferred to SPSS statistical software version 20 for analysis. Logistic regression was employed to assess risk factors associated with increased prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in diarrheic children under five years of age, and a P value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 19% (95%CI = 14–24.6). The most prevalent intestinal parasites were Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (24 (10.86%)), Giardia lamblia (12 (5.43%)), and Ascaris lumbricoides (2 (0.9%)). Children's mother/guardian washed their hands sometimes after the toilet (AOR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.09-8.18), children who always eat unwashed fruits and vegetables (AOR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.09–19.75), and children's mother/guardian who had no knowledge about the mode of transmission (AOR = 4.03, 95% CI: 1.04–15.64) were risk factors significantly associated with increased intestinal parasitic infections. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was found low compared to the population prevalence reported by WHO. However, strengthening health education about food and personal hygiene of both children and their mothers/guardians is crucial to limit the transmission of IPIs.