Prevalence and Associated Factors of Intestinal Parasites among Food Handlers Working in Food Service Establishments in Northwest Ethiopia, 2022

Background

As in most of African countries, intestinal parasites have been widely distributed in Ethiopia and are among the 10 top causes of morbidity and mortality nationwide. Statistics for food-borne illness in various industrialized countries show that up to 60% of cases may be caused by poor food handling techniques and by contaminated food served in food service establishments. Epidemiological information on the prevalence of various intestinal parasitic infections in different regions/localities is a prerequisite to develop appropriate strategies.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the magnitude of intestinal parasites among food handlers working in different food service establishments in Gondar city.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with food handlers working in different food service establishments in Gondar city. Stool samples were collected from 350 food handlers and processed using the formol-ether concentration method and then microscopically examined for intestinal parasitic infections. Pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to study the socio-demographic characteristics of food handlers. Chi-square test and p-value were used to assess the associations between risk factors and the parasite isolation rate. The p-value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Of the 350 food handlers, 160 (45.71%) had parasites. Among the isolated parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides was found to be the most prevalent parasite 35.63%, followed by hookworm 19.38%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 16.25%, Trichuris trichiura 10.00%, Strongyloides stercoralis 8.13%, Schistosoma mansoni 6.88%, and Cystoisospora belli, Hymenolepis nana, and Taenia species each accounting 1.25%.

Conclusion

The result of the study indicated that the magnitude of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers working at different levels of food establishments in Gondar, Ethiopia, was found to be high. Being at lower educational level and inactive role of the town's municipality are determined as a risk factor for parasitic positivity of food handlers.

Assessment of Knowledge about Obstetric Danger Signs and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Background

World Health Organization estimates that 800 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications around the world every day. With the assumption that "every pregnancy faces risk" women should be aware of the danger signs of obstetric complications during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Indications on the prevalence of obstetric danger signs and risk factors were crucial in designing programs at different levels in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.

Objective

To assess the knowledge about obstetric danger signs and associated factors among pregnant women in Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 295 respondents to assess knowledge about obstetrical danger signs among pregnant women in Debre Tabor town from July to September 2021. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Proportional followed by simple random sampling was used to select the study participants among the pregnant women in each of the six kebeles of the town. Adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval and a value of p < 0.05 were used to identify the predictors.

Results

From a total of 295 interviewed, 61% of them were poorly knowledgeable about obstetric danger signs, but 39% of them were knowledgeable. According to our study, maternal age less than or equal to 30 years (adjusted odds ratio = 5.44; 95% confidence interval: 3.26,9.10), no formal education (adjusted odds ratio = 9.488; 95% confidence interval: 4.73, 13.14), one-time gravidity (adjusted odds ratio = 7.81; 95% confidence interval: 4.79, 9.19), and frequency of antenatal follow-up less than 4 times (adjusted odds ratio = 4.10; 95% confidence interval: 1.88, 8.96) were factors which significantly associated with the poor knowledge of obstetric danger signs.

Conclusion

As the knowledge of pregnant women towards obstetric danger signs was low, maternal age less than or equal to 30 years, no formal education, one-time gravidity, and less than 4 times the frequency of antenatal follow-up are associated factors for poor knowledge on obstetric danger signs.