The burden and trend of intestinal parasitosis among women at Berekum, Ghana: a 9-year retrospective study

Deku, John Gameli and Okyere, Daniel Ofori and Buabeng, Samuel and Edziah, Florence Shine and Bedzina, Israel and Kinanyok, Silas and Duedu, Kwabena and Aninagyei, Enoch (2024) The burden and trend of intestinal parasitosis among women at Berekum, Ghana: a 9-year retrospective study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 24 (1). ISSN 1471-2334

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Abstract

Background

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are serious global public health issues, especially in low and middle-income countries. These parasites can cause high morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals, and can easily be transmitted by consumption of contaminated food or water or by penetration of skin and mucous membranes.
Methods

We retrospectively analyzed all archived data from stool examination reports at the Parasitology Unit of Precise Health Diagnostic Services, Berekum for the prevalence and trends of parasitic infections spanning a period of 9 years (2013–2021). The data was retrieved and exported to IBM SPSS v.26 for statistical analysis. Descriptive data was summarized as proportions and presented in tables and charts. Pearson Chi-Square test (χ2) or Fisher’s exact test was used to test for a statistical association between demographic factors and intestinal parasitic infections. P value was significant at < 0.05.
Results

A total of 9,217 records of stool examinations were retrieved. Almost half (48.45%) of the data were from patients aged between 20 and 29 years. An overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections of 21.20% was observed in this study. Patients aged 70 to 79 had the highest prevalence of the IPIs (44.44%). The parasites recovered in this study were intestinal flagellates, Entamoeba coli, Hookworm, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis and Hymenolepis nana. The intestinal flagellates had the highest prevalence (98.31%) compared to the other intestinal parasites recovered. Intestinal parasitic infections had the highest prevalence in the year 2020 (28.56%) and lowest in 2018 (11.78%).
Conclusion

An overall prevalence of 21.20% of intestinal parasitic infection was found. The majority of the parasites reported were intestinal flagellates (98.31%). The trend analysis revealed that the overall prevalence fluctuated across the entire period from 2013 to 2021.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1186/s12879-024-10188-4
Dates:	Date Event 6 November 2024 Accepted 12 November 2024 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Intestinal parasitic infection, Intestinal flagellates, Precise health diagnostic services, Berekum
Subjects:	CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-01 - biosciences > CAH03-01-01 - biosciences (non-specific)
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Life Sciences
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2024 13:41
Last Modified:	20 Nov 2024 13:41
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15983