Abstract:
Background: -Intestinal parasites are a real nationwide public health problem but there is a paucity of
data and studies in determining the magnitude and associated risk factors in pregnant women in
Ethiopia.
Objective: - This study aimed to assess magnitude of intestinal parasites infection and its associated
factors among pregnant women attending ANC services in public health facilities at Laga Tafo Laga
Dadi Town, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia 2023.
Method: - Facility based cross sectional study was conducted from February 30 to May 30, 2023 among
321 pregnant women who have the antenatal care follow up during the study period. Data was collected
by using a structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire and laboratory microscopic
parasite examination. Data were entered using Epi-Data 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 26 for
analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize descriptive data. Bivariable and multivariable
analysis was computed to determine the association between the outcome variables and the independent
variables using binary logistic regression model. The strength of association was measured using OR
and 95% CI, and a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant on the final model.
Result: The overall response rates were 96.3%. The magnitude of intestinal parasites among pregnant
women attending ANC services in public health facilities in Laga Tafo Laga Dadi Town was 7.8%
(95% CI, 0.05, and 11.01). The type of parasites found among pregnant women includes hookworms
(0.3%), T. Trichuria (0.3%), A. Lumbricoides (1.6%), Teanea species (1.6%), Entamoeba histolytica
(1.9%), and Giardia lamblia (2.2%). The odds of women’s have non-formal education was significantly
affected were compared to secondary school and above (AOR=3.59, 95% CI, 1.24, 10.38) and the odds
of using toilet leftover water for others purpose were more likely infected when compared to who had
cannot used toilet leftover water for others purpose like wash hand and legs (AOR=2.84,95%
CI,1.00,8.01). Others finding the odds of unsafe disposal around there living/working area was four
times than associated were compare to who had safe disposal appropriately, (AOR=3.84,95%
CI,1.26,11.70).
Conclusion and Recommendation: Educational status, liquid waste disposal, unsafe waste disposal
around the living /working area, using toilet leftover water for other purpose, and eating uncooked meat
were factors significantly associated with intestinal parasite infection. The health center facility shall
cooperate to improve pregnant women's is it a problem of awareness of waste disposal and hygiene
practice.
