Prevalence of Intestinal Parasite Infections and Their Associated Factors among Food Handlers Working in Selected Catering Establishments from Bule Hora, Ethiopia

Abstract

Intestinal parasites are responsible for one of the major health problems like food contamination with socioeconomic effects in the world with a prevalence rate of 30-60%, in developing countries that lie within tropical and subtropical areas. They pose a reasonable public health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Globally, due to intestinal parasitic infections, around 3.5 billion people are affected and more than 200,000 deaths are reported annually. Around 50000 deaths yearly are caused by intestinal parasites in Ethiopia. As such, intestinal parasites perceived global and local burdens to various countries. The risk of food contamination depends largely on the health status of the food handlers, their hygiene, knowledge, and practice of food hygiene. Food handlers with poor personal hygiene and sanitation conditions are the major potential sources of intestinal helminthes and protozoa worldwide. The proposed study was aimed at evaluating prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associated factors among food handlers working in selected catering establishments. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bule Hora Town from March to April 2020. A total of 136 catering establishments were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in this study was 46.3%. Entamoeba histolytica was the most predominant parasite (33.3%, i.e., 21/63) while Giardia lamblia was the least (11.1%, i.e., 7/63). Consumption of vended or borehole water and hygienic practices such as hand washing before eating, after using toilet, before cooking and trimming of finger nail and wearing proper working clothes and shoes were statistically significant with intestinal parasitic infection (P < 0.05). Generally, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in this study was high and contributed by low socioeconomic status and poor environmental and personal hygiene. Measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, drinking water supply, regular medical checkups, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites.

Figure 1

Map of the study location of Bule Hora Town, Ethiopia.

Figure 2

Respondents' knowledge towards signs and symptoms associated with intestinal parasites from Bule Hora Town, Ethiopia.

Figure 3

Participants' awareness towards the purpose of hand washing from Bule Hora Town, Ethiopia.

Figure 4

Stool type associated with study participants from Bule Hora Town, Ethiopia.

Figure 5

Diagnostic stages of intestinal parasites isolated from fresh stool samples of food handlers from Bule Hora Town, Ethiopia: (a) Entamoeba histolytica cyst; (b) Ascaris lumbricoides egg; (c) Taenia saginata egg; (d) hookworm egg; (e) Giardia lamblia cyst. Scale bar represents 100 μm (magnification: ×400).

Figure 6

Frequency of distribution of intestinal parasitic infection among study participants from Bule Hora Town, Ethiopia.