Magnitude of intestinal parasite infection and its associated factors among pregnant women at Laga Tafo Laga Dadi Town, Ethiopia

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.