Assessment and Mapping of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors from Different Northern Health Centers in Rwanda Volume 2 - Issue 2

Cedrick Izere¹ and GR Neel²*

• ¹Assistant Lecturer, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Rwanda
• ²Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Rwanda

Received: November 19, 2020;   Published: December 18, 2020

*Corresponding author: Roua Lajnaf, Alimentary Analysis Unit, National Engineering School of Sfax, BPW 3038, Sfax, Tunisia

DOI: 10.32474/CTBM.2020.02.000133

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Abstract

Aim: The general objective of this study involved the assessment and mapping of intestinal parasitic infections in Rwanda.
Methods: In this study, Rwandan health centers and hospitals from different region were targeted. For each suspected patient was given a labeled stool container to collect stool sample. The stool samples were carried to parasitological laboratory for parasitological examination. Macroscopic examination was performed, and direct smears prepared with normal saline and/ or iodine for parasites analysis under microscope (objectives 10×and 40×). Risk factors associated to intestinal parasites were assessed using structured questionnaires given to patients. Obtained cross sectional results of intestinal parasites prevalence and associated risk factors from different Rwandan Northern health centers were used, analyzed by SSPSS version 16, Microsoft Excel and Arc Map and records are incorporated into a geographical system for mapping.
Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Rwanda according to 3139 patients who answered well the questionnaire was 57% among the age group below 5 years old, 54.96% among the age group of 5-15 years old, 57.41% among the age group of 15-25 years old, 55.37% among the age group of 25-35 years old, 59.59% among the age group of 35-45 years old and 49.40% among the age group of ≤45 years old. In the present study, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was significantly 65.39% among the age group of ≥45 years and was higher compare to other age groups.
Conclusion: This current study has tried to point out relatively assessment and mapping of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors in Rwanda. The relatively high prevalence rate of intestinal parasites infections in Rwanda are the reflection of poor sanitation of the environment, poor personal hygiene, relatively unhygienic water supply and lack of clean drinking water supply. Those were the main risk factors for intestinal parasites infection in Rwanda.
Recommendation: There is a need for community mobilization towards provision and use of safe and adequate water supply, latrine construction to reduce open field defecation. The high overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in this present study need the mass deworming in the community and establishment of good personal hygiene and environmental sanitation; public health education is also necessary on the transmission of intestinal parasitic infections in communities, participatory approaches and combined efforts from the community and health sectors are needed to control the study areas.

Keywords: Protozoans; Helminthes; Intestinal Parasitic Infections

Abstract| Introduction| Research Methodology| Laboratory Parasitological Examination Procedures| Results and Discussion| Risk Factors and their Association of Intestinal Parasitic Infections| Mapping of intestinal parasitic infections| Conclusion| Recommendations| References|