Prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasite infections among patients attending Dil Yibza Health Center, North Gondar, Ethiopia

Intestinal parasite infections (IPIs) are a significant global public health issue, particularly in Ethiopia, where data on prevalence and associated risk factors are lacking in regions like Dil Yibza town, northwest Ethiopia. The present study assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasite infections (IPIs) among patients attending Dil Yibza health center in Beyeda district, north Gondar zone, Ethiopia. The authors conducted a health center-based cross-sectional study on 404 systematically selected patients visiting Dil Yibza health center, north Gondar zone (Ethiopia), from December 2019 to February 2020. Data were collected using a pretested, structured Amharic version of a questionnaire after obtaining verbal consent from each respondent. Approximately 2-3 g of fresh stool samples were collected and subjected to direct saline wet mount and formaldehyde concentration methods. All data were coded and entered into SPSS software version 25 to perform the statistical analysis. The association between the risk factors and the presence of IPIs was determined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Pvalues <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. We identified nine species of intestinal parasites. The overall prevalence of IPIs was 55.2 %. Entamoeba histolytica/ dispar (46.5 %) was the most predominant parasite followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (9.2 %), Giardia lamblia (2.7 %), hookworm species (1.2 %), Hymenolepis nana (1.0 %), Trichuris trichiura (0.7 %), Enterobius vermicularis (0.5 %), and Schistosoma mansoni (0.2 %). We found double and triple parasitic infections in 6.7 % and 0.2 % of the respondents, respectively. Being divorced (AOR = 3.21, CI = 1.15-8.96, p = 0.03), illiteracy (AOR = 2.61, CI = 1.24-5.49, p = 0.011), having diarrhea (AOR = 4.22, CI = 2.57-6.91, p = 0.001), absence of handwashing habit after defecation (AOR = 4.36, CI = 2.83-6.72, p = 0.000), the habit of eating unwashed vegetables (AOR = 5.43, CI = 4.33-23.77, p = 0.000), dirt under fingernails (AOR = 5.63, CI = 2.60-11.32, p = 0.001), and poor personal hygiene (AOR = 7.01, CI = 4.35-8.95, p = 0.015) were associated risk factors for IPIs (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of IPIs in the study area is high. We recommend the regular provision of health education on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation and periodic deworming.