WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Sura Razzaq Khudhair, Farah Awid Abed, Jaafar Faez Kadhim Alsadooni and Salam Jasim Mohammed*

ABSTRACT

Background: Despite significant improvements in general health conditions within our country, intestinal parasitism remains a pressing medical issue, particularly among children. Approximately half of the school children examined in this study were found to be positive for one or more intestinal parasites. Methodology: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) associated with risk factor among primary school children in Al-Diwaniyah city. The research was conducted from October 2023 to February 2024. A total of 155 stool specimens from children aged 6 to 12 years were collected and analyzed. The specimens were examined using direct smear techniques, physiological saline solution, iodine solution, and the Acid-Fast Modified Staining method to ensure accurate results. Results and Discussion: The study identified several parasitic infections, with Giardia lamblia being the most prevalent (35.8%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (30.7%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (23%). Hymenolepis nana was found in 7.6% of cases, and Taenia saginata was detected in 2.5% of specimens. The overall infection rate was approximately 50.3%, with a higher prevalence in males (62.6%) compared to females (38.7%), showing a significant gender difference. Age-specific analysis revealed that children in the age groups 6-7 years and 7-8 years had the highest infection rates, at 80% and 56%, respectively. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in Al-Diwaniyah city, with notable differences in infection rates based on gender and age. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions to address and mitigate the impact of intestinal parasitism in this population.

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