Prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections among asymptomatic food handlers in Wollo University student’s cafeteria, Northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

ObjectiveIntestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the major public health and socioeconomic problems in developing countries like Ethiopia. Food-handlers that directly deal with production and distribution of foods between societies are one of the most important sources to transmit parasitic infections to humans. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasites among asymptomatic food-handlers working in students’ cafeteria of Wollo University, Northeastern Ethiopia.ResultA cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 asymptomatic food handlers at Wollo University from January 1 to February 20, 2018. Among the total participants 30 (15%) were infected with at least one intestinal parasites. The dominant parasite was E. histolytica (5.5%) followed by A. lumbricoides (4%) and then G. lamblia (3%). Finger nail trimming (p = 0.002, AOR: 4.35, 95% CI 1.71–11.04), medical checkup (p = 0.012, AOR: 4.01, 95% CI 1.37–12.25) and residence (p = 0.014, AOR: 3.16, 95% CI 1.26–7.95) were independent predictors of intestinal parasitic infection among the food handlers.

Magnitude of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Factors among Food Handlers Working at Woldia University Student’s Cafeteria, Northeastern Ethiopia: An institution based cross-sectional study

“…The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among food handlers working in Woldia university student cafeteria was 16.8%. This finding was similar with studies from different parts of Ethiopia such as 14.5% Aksum Town [13], 15% Wollo University student's cafeteria [14]. However, the prevalence of IPIs was low as compared to studies conducted in Ethiopia, 41.1% in Bahir Dar, Amhara [15], 52.4% Mekelle University student cafeteria, Tigray [10], 45.3% Addis Ababa University student's cafeteria, Addis Ababa [11], 33%, in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia [16], 36% Arba Minch University, Southern Ethiopia [19], 25.2% Haramaya University cafeterias, Eastern…”

“…Food handlers who did not trim their fingernail were 3 times more likely infested with intestinal parasites than those who trimmed their fingers regularly. This is similar to the study conducted in Wollo University student's cafeteria [14], Arba Minch University, Ethiopia [19] and at Prison of East and West Gojjam [5]. This might be due to the fact that those food handlers didn't trim their fingernail which makes them carrier of parasites in the fingernail, as a result, they became more infested with intestinal parasites.…”

“…In contrast, the most abundant parasite of Arba Minch University students' cafeteria, were Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 48(14%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 32(9.27%) [17], Haramaya University cafeterias were Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (46.7%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (14.3%) [12], Wollo University student's cafeteria were Enttamoeba. histolytica (5.5%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (4%) and then Gardia lamblia (3%) [14]. However, the predominant organism were found to be Ascaris lumbricoides in other studies which was conducted in Jimma University Specialized Hospital [16] and Gondar Ethiopia [9].…”

Prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers working at higher public University student’s cafeterias and public food establishments in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Studies in Ethiopia showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among food handlers working at University student cafeteria's and public food establishment area such as Haramaya University cafeterias (14.3%) [9], East and West Gojjam prison (61.9%) [10], Wollo University student's cafeteria (15%) [11], Aksum Town (14.5%) [12], Jimma University Specialized Hospital (33%) [13], Addis Ababa University Students' Cafeteria (45.3%) [7], Hawassa University (20.6%) [14], and Mekelle University student's cafeteria (52.4%) [2]. However, the prevalence reflected in these small and fragmented studies varied widely and remained inconclusive.…”

Intestinal parasites among food handlers of food service establishments in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In Ethiopia, fragmented and dispersed studies conducted on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers of food service establishments. The result of these studies showed variation and inconsistency in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers: 10.9 to 45.3% in Ethiopian university cafeterias [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22], 61.9% in prisons [14], 35% in orphanage centers [23], (32.3%) public hospitals [24], 14.5 to 44% in restaurants and cafeterias [13,[25][26][27][28]. According to the result of those studies, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers of food service establishments was wide-ranging.…”