Parasitic etiology of diarrhea and associated factors among under-five-year children attending Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

¹College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia

^&Corresponding author
Teshale Worku, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia

Introduction    

Globally, about two billion cases of diarrhea occur every year [1]. It is caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths [2]. In developing countries, diarrhea is more commonly caused by intestinal parasites (IPs) and bacterial pathogens than by viruses [3]. These etiologies are transmitted through contaminated hands, inanimate objects, and mechanical vectors [4]. Diarrhea kills more under-five-year children than Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), malaria, and measles in combination can, indicating the severe impact of the disease in this age group [5]. Around 90% of morbidity and mortality occurred in South Asia and sub-Saharan African countries, which are more attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene [3,6]. It causes one in eight deaths among under-five-year children and more than 5,000 children continue to die each year [7]. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of diarrhea among under-five-year children was 12.1% [8]. Studies carried out in different localities of Ethiopia revealed a high burden of diarrhea. For instance, 22.1% in rural areas of the North Gondar Zone, 28.9% in Nekemte Town of western Ethiopia, 27.3% in the Jigjiga District of the Somali Region, and 22.5% in the Kersa District of Eastern Ethiopia [9,10]. As in other parts of Ethiopia, diarrhea among under-five-year children is a common public health problem in the southern parts of Ethiopia. It is one of the most common reasons for children to visit health institutions. Most of the time, diarrheal cases were managed clinically rather than through laboratory-based identification of the causative agents of the illness. Hence, there is a lack of complete data to document its burden due to inadequate definitive diagnosis. Several studies indicated that the educational status of parents, occupation, income, contaminated water source, duration of breastfeeding, failure to wash hands adequately, inappropriate use of latrines and age of the child were significant forecasters of diarrhea among under-five-year children [11-14]. This study aims to identify the parasitic etiology of diarrhea and associated factors among under-five-year children attending Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia.

Methods     

Study type and design : an institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2021 at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital.

Study setting: this study was carried out in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital which is located in the Aman sub-city of Mizan Aman City, which is an administrative city of Bench-Sheko Zone. The Zone is found in Southwest Ethiopia Regional State.

Study participants: randomly selected under-five-year children attending Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Department (POPD) presenting with diarrhea were included in the study.

Inclusion criteria: all under-five children with diarrhea who visits POPD in Mizan-Tepi- University Teaching Hospital were included in our study.

Exclusion criteria: children who were on Medication during the time of sample collection were excluded from the study.

Sample size and sampling procedure: the sample size was determined using single population formula considering the following assumptions: Z Þ/2 at 95% confidence interval, proportion of under-five children with diarrhea who had parasitic agents of infection was taken 26.6% from previous similar study conducted in Hawassa town, Southern, Ethiopia [5] and margin of error (d) of 5% were used. Adding a 10% non-response rate, the final sample size was collected to be = 330.

Sampling technique: simple random sampling technique was used to select the under-five children who attended at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital who experienced diarrheas during the study period were included. The researchers selected a subset of participants from a population randomly. Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. Data is then collected from as large a percentage as possible of this random subset using lottery method to incorporate all the study participants until the sample size reached which was determined by assigning sequential values to each participant within a population, then randomly selecting those values.

Methods of collecting data and instrumentation: a pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the demographic data. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic, environmental, and behavioral factors for the parasitic etiology of diarrhea. The questionnaire was developed in English and then translated into the local language, Amharic. Back translation from Amharic to English language was done by another person who had good skills in the two languages to check for its consistency. Pre-testing of the questionnaires was done on 5% of the participants at another hospital a week before the actual data collection period. Interviewer-filled information was obtained from each study participant after taking written informed consent from their parents.

Sample collection and processing: about 2 grams of diarrheic stool samples were collected from the participants in screw-capped containers. The samples were documented with the necessary client information and transported to the parasitology laboratory within 30 minutes of collection. In the laboratory, the direct saline wet mount was performed and observed for the detection and identification of motile and non-motile intestinal parasites. The concentration technique was also conducted according to the standard procedures for the detection of intestinal parasites found in small numbers. The preparations were examined microscopically using a low-power objective as well as the 40x objective to examine small cysts and eggs. Different staining techniques such as iodine stain and modified Ziehl-Neelsen Staining (ZNS) method were also performed following concentration by the formol ether to detect oocyst stages of protozoans.

Data quality assurance: the questionnaire was checked and pre-tested before conducting data collection. Data was collected by using a local language that is being spoken by respondents. During the collection of data, the participants were informed about the research to prevent confusion and information bias. Data collection by questionnaire, stool processing, and stool sample collection was done by following the standard operating procedure, pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic phases of quality assurance were applied. Samples were checked for mixing of stool with urine. The reagents were checked for consistency and expiration date. Examination slides were prepared in duplicates and each slide was examined by two investigators.

Methods of data analysis: data was entered using Epi-Data version 4.6.0 and then exported into Stata version 14.0 analysis. Descriptive statistics parameters such as frequency and mean were computed. Crude odd ratios (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated to check the association between the variables. P-value <0.05 was considered for the statistically significant association. Finally, the magnitude of association between different variables with the outcome variable was measured by adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.

Availability of data and materials: the data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Funding: this study has not received any funds.

Ethics approval and consent to participate: ethical clearance was obtained from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences review committee. After approval, a formal letter was sent to the administrator of Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital to get permission for the study. Communication was made between the administrator and the head of the ward before the commencement of the study. Written informed consent was obtained from each study participant.

Results     

Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants: the distribution of age, sex, and residence of the participants was presented below (Tableau 1). A total of 300 children aged from six months to five years presenting with diarrhea to Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital participated in the study. The majority of the children, 145(48.33%) were aged below two years. The remaining 76(25.33%) and 79(26.33%) were children aged between two to three and three up to five years respectively. One hundred twenty-three (41%) were male and the remaining 177(59%) were female. Regarding the residence of the participants, 150(50%) urban (Mizan Aman town) and 150(50%) rural resident study participants were participated in the study.

Discussion     

The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in our study was 22.67%. Different parasitic causes of diarrhea among under-five-years of children identified in this study were also reported by several studies conducted elsewhere [15,16]. The prevalence of IPIs found in this study was consistent with that reported from Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia (26.6%) [3] and lower than that reported from Addis Ababa (27.5%) [16], Yirgalem, Southern Ethiopia (49.56%) [17], Bale, Eastern Ethiopia (38.5%) [18] and other countries such as Nigeria (23.3%) [19] Bangladesh (70%) [20], Cameroon (59.2%) [21], India (46.5%) [22], and Gabon (61%) [23]. On the other hand, the overall prevalence of IPIs found in this study was higher than findings from North Shewa, Ethiopia (17.4%) [12], Debre-Birhan, Northern Ethiopia (9.8%) [24], Dessie, Northern Ethiopia (15.5%) [25], Mozambique (14.5%), Tanzania (15.1%) [26,27], Sub-Saharan Africa (12.1%) [28] and Europe (5.9%) [29]. These variations might be due to differences in hygiene practices, maternal or caregiver educational status, family size (number of under-five-year children), source of water for drinking, diagnostic methods, and socio-economic status of the participants as well as seasonal differences.

Similar studies conducted in two public health facilities, in Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia among under-five-year children present with diarrhea identified the related prevalence of IPIs (26.6%) was found to be positive for at least one Intestinal parasite (IP) species. Double infection was detected to be 3.8%. E. histolytica/dispar was the most commonly encountered parasite (11.4%), followed by G. lamblia (7%), and 3.8% of children were also positive for the Cryptosporidium species. The prevalence of intestinal helminths identified was 8.2% consisting of Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepsis nana, and Trichuris trichiura [3]. In this study, 11.67% of E. histolytica/dispar was identified as slightly higher than in study conducted in certain parts of Ethiopia; Hawassa which was 11.4%, and Debre Birhan, North Shewa which was 5.7% and 5.67% Giardia lamblia was also detected. Hence, it was lower than the finding of a similar study conducted in Hawassa two health facilities which were 7%, and that of Debre Birhan, North Shewa was 8.5% where the predominant protozoan parasites were isolated. Cryptosporidium species was not detected in our study but it was reported in 3.8% of the children in a study conducted in two health facilities of Hawassa [3]. It might be due to the lack of a detection kit and the absence of molecular technique that makes us miss light infection of Cryptosporidiosis.

Intestinal helminths, particularly soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), were reported commonly infect children in developing countries including Ethiopia [3,12,30]. In this study, helminthic infections were identified in 28 (9.33%) of the children, 11(3.67%) infected with the A. lumbricoides, 10(3.33%) T. trichuria, 4(1.33%) H. nana and 3(1%) children were infected with both A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura, which is higher than studies conducted in Hawassa two health facilities and Debre Birhan North Shewa Ethiopia, 8.2% and 3.2% respectively. A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were the predominant helminthic parasites identified in this study. Studies identified a high prevalence of STHs and Schistosoma mansoni in Southwest Ethiopia (76.7%) among elementary school children and recommend urgent deworming of school children according to WHO guidelines [31]. The currently initiated national school-based deworming program might have an impact on the STH infection rate among preschool children in the long run. Since intestinal helminthic infections were acquired from the community from infected sources among all age groups; this deworming program might have a great role in the reduction of the rate of parasitic infection among under-five-years of children. On the other hand, mass treatment didn´t consider drug resistance which might have an impact on the reduced efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole against A. lumbricoides and Hookworms has been reported in Northwest Ethiopia [3], therefore, deworming might need laboratory confirmation of the species of parasites to be more effective and to minimize to the threat of drug resistance. However, mass treatment (deworming) is important to reduce the rate of intestinal helminthic infection, it´s not as important to protozoan parasitic infections such as E. histolytica, G. lamblia, C. parvum this might be taken as a reason why protozoan parasites are the most predominant cause of diarrhea among under-five-year children. In our study only wet mount preparation and formol-ether concentration technique were used to detect the parasites, the number of children infected with parasites could have been underestimated in this study, which might be due to the test method difference, therefore chance of missing light infection is high. In this study, 35 (11.67%) children aged below 2 years were positive for IPs, and 19 (6.33%) children aged 2 up to 3 years were positive whereas the prevalence among those above 3 years was 14(4.67%). This difference is significant with (p-value < 0.05). The higher prevalence of IPs in children aged less than 3 years compared to children aged above 3 years might be due to younger children´s contact with fecally-contaminated soil while playing, they also feed the contaminated soil and their immune status which could predispose them to high risk getting infected.

In this study, 50% of the participants were urban residents, and the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among under-five children living in families with less than three members was 18(6%). Therefore, the number of children (family size) was significantly related to the prevalence of IPs confirmed with multivariate analysis (Table 3) might be due to overcrowded living conditions, poverty, and less caregiving than expected. A significant difference in the prevalence of IPs among children from urban areas (6%) and rural areas (16.67%) was observed, this might be due to lack of safe water source, increase soil contact, not washing fruit before a meal, use of unprotected water for drinking and failure to hand washing after defecation. This study also identified that there is a significant association between the educational status of mothers and the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection, no formal education 27(9%) read and write 19(6.33%), primary 14(4.67%), secondary and above 8(2.67%). Although the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards intestinal parasitic infection were not assessed in this study the prevalence of IPs might be related to the knowledge of guardians on ways of transmission and prevention and control of parasites might play a major role in the epidemiological distribution of the intestinal parasitic infections among under-five-year children.

Limitation: the prevalence of IPs among early breastfeeding children and children being breastfed but also receiving complementary food was not assessed in this study. Recommendation: in this study high burden of intestinal parasitic infections was recorded among children under five years of age which calls for effective interventional strategies such as deworming (for helminths) and effective anti-protozoal drugs should be considered. Additionally, raising awareness of parents/guardians on keeping personnel hygiene of their children and environmental sanitation is crucial to reduce the burden of parasitic infections, by delivering health educations about intestinal parasites of medical importance. Moreover, strategies targeting the control and prevention of intestinal parasites should be devised by local administrative bodies in the study area.

Conclusion     

The present study identified a high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among under- five years of children presenting with diarrhea which is significantly associated with maternal/ guardians´ educational status (no formal education of maternal/ guardians (AOR=94.900, 95% CI:24.664-365.155), use of unprotected water for drinking (AOR= 25.189, 95% CI:4.671-135.847), and age group 2-3 years of age children was attributable to IPIs (AOR= 0.466, 95% CI:0.204,0.976). Other environmental and socio-economic factors play great role to parasitic cause diarrhea among under-five-years of children.

Competing interests     

The authors declare no competing interests.

Authors' contributions     

Conceptualization: Teshale Worku. Formal analysis: Samuel Sahile, Teka Haile. Investigation: Teshale Worku, Teka Haile. Methodology: Teshale Worku, Teka Haile. Supervision: Tadesse Duguma. Writing-original draft: Teka Haile. Writing-review and editing: Teshale Worku, Tadesse Duguma. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Acknowledgments     

We want to express our deepest gratitude to College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Teaching Hospital Health Professionals working in Pediatrics Outpatient Department as well as parents and guardians of the children for their unreserved cooperation in this study.

Tables and figure     

Table 1: socio-demographic characteristics of under-five-year children with diarrhea in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital

Table 2: univariate and multivariable analyses of socio-demographic factors with intestinal parasitic infections among under-five-year children attended Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital

Table 3: univariate and multivariable analyses of environmental and behavioral factors with intestinal parasitic infection among under-five-year children in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital

Figure 1: intestinal parasites species distribution among under-five children who attended Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital

References