Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants
A total of 348 food handlers were enrolled in this intestinal parasitosis prevalence study with zero non-response rate. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were presented in Table 1. One hundred seventy five (50.3%) of the participants were female, resulting in the male to female ratio of 0.98:1. Majority of the study subjects 157/348(45%) were cookers, followed by waiters 141/348(40.5%), coffee/tea machine operators 21/348(6%) and utensil and left over food cleaners 16/348(4.6%) (Table 1).
Majority (118/348(33.9%)) of the study subjects were within the interval of 15-19 years of age, followed by 20-24 years of age interval (115/348(33%)). Furthermore, 188/348(54%) of the participants had educational level from grade 7-12 and 143/348(41.1%) of them attended from grade 1-6 and only 6/348(1.7%)of the participants were studied above grade 12. As it’s shown in Table 1, none of the socio-demographic variables were significantly associated with intestinal parasite infections (p>0.05).
Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of food handlers in Ginnir town, Southeast Ethiopia, 2014.
Characteristics
|
Total n(%)
|
No of positive for intestinal parasitosis (%)
|
p-value
|
Sex
|
Male
|
173(49.7%)
|
25(52.0%)
|
0.723
|
Female
|
175 (50.3%)
|
23(48%)
|
Job
|
Waiter
|
141 (40.5%)
|
19(39.6%)
|
0.730
|
Cooker
|
157(45%)
|
23(48%)
|
Coffee/tea machine operator
|
21(6%)
|
4(8.3%)
|
House cleaner
|
8(2.3%)
|
0
|
Utensil and left over food cleaner
|
16(4.6%)
|
2(4.2%)
|
Others
|
5(1.4%)
|
0
|
Religion
|
Muslim
|
162(46.6%)
|
25(52%)
|
0.707
|
Orthodox
|
136(39.1%)
|
17(35.4%)
|
Protestant
|
50(14.6%)
|
6(12.5%)
|
Age interval
|
10-14
|
12(3.4%)
|
0
|
0.066
|
15-19
|
118(33.9%)
|
16(33.3%)
|
20-24
|
115(33%)
|
21(43.8%)
|
25-29
|
61(17.5%)
|
10(20.8%)
|
30-35
|
42(12.1%
|
1(2.1%)
|
Educational status
|
Illiterate
|
11(3.2%)
|
4(8.3%)
|
0.104
|
1-6
|
143(41.1%)
|
21(43.8%)
|
7-12
|
188(54%)
|
23(49.9%)
|
12+
|
6(1.7%)
|
0
|
Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis
Based on microscopic stool sample examination results, four species of intestinal parasites were identified and thus, the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers was 48/348(13.8%). The commonest parasites to be detected were, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 23/348(6.6%) followed by Giardia lamblia 16/348(4.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides 7/348(2.0%) and Strongyloides stercolaris 2/348(0.6%). All these parasites were found as a mono-infection, however, no double, triple and quadruple parasitic infections were detected. Furthermore, the prevalence of intestinal parasites in males and females was comparable (52% Vs 48% respectively) (Table 2).
Table 2. Type of intestinal parasite identified among food handlers in Ginnir town, Southeast Ethiopia, 2014.
Type of intestinal parasite
|
Total positive for intestinal parasitosis n(%)
|
Prevalence among detected parasites n(%)
|
Entamoeba histolytica/dispar
|
23 (6.6)
|
23(47.9)
|
Giardia lamblia
|
16(4.6)
|
16(33.3)
|
Ascaris lumbricoides
|
7(2.0)
|
7(14.6)
|
Strongyloides stercolaris
|
2(0.6)
|
2(4.2)
|
Factors associated with intestinal parasitosis
The distributions of intestinal parasites and associated factors were indicated in Table 3. Habit of eating raw/under cooked vegetables (AOR=6, 95% CI=2.94-8.67) and poor personal hygiene (As described by: dirty materials on hand/body, dirt in finger nails, unclean hair, dirty clothes, those don’t have regular bath, no/dirty shoes) were associated factors that showed statistically significant association with intestinal parasitosis (AOR=39, 95% CI=1.51-10.23). Three hundred twenty five (93.4%) of the study subjects did not attended any training on how to safely process food and awareness on food hygiene and 328(94.3%) of the participants were responded that they always wash their hands before eating. However, both showed no significant association with parasitic infections (AOR=56, 95% CI=0.61-5.11) and (AOR=1.10, 95% CI=0.55-1.62) Furthermore, even though it lacks statistically significant association, intestinal parasitosis was higher in those who have no regular medical checkup (AOR=56, 95% CI=0.75-3.15) and those wear protective coat during cooking (AOR=50, 95% CI=0.87-4.35) (Table 3).
Table 3. Multivariable analysis of factors associated with intestinal parasitosis among food handlers in Ginnir town, Southeast, Ethiopia, 2014.
Characteristics
|
Total n(%)
|
No of positive for intestinal parasitosis (%)
|
Adjusted OR (95% CI)
|
P-value
|
Ever heard about hygiene
|
Yes
|
314(90.2%)
|
43(89.6%)
|
1.24[0.85-1.98]
|
0.871
|
No
|
34(9.8%)
|
5(10.4%)
|
1
|
Hand washing habit before eating
|
Always
|
328(94.3%)
|
45(93.6%)
|
1.10[0.55-1.62]
|
0.871
|
Almost
|
20(5.7%)
|
3(6.3%)
|
1
|
Hand washing habit after toilet
|
Always
|
304(87.4%)
|
46(95.8%)
|
1.37[0.63-3.25]
|
0.057
|
Almost
|
44(12.6%)
|
2(4.2%)
|
1
|
Hand washing habit before food preparation
|
Always
|
291(83.6%)
|
37(77.1%)
|
1.66[1.01-2.95]
|
0.187
|
Almost
|
57(16.4%)
|
11(22.9%)
|
1
|
Habit of eating raw/under cooked vegetables
|
Yes
|
144(41.4%)
|
34(70.8%)
|
2.6[2.94-8.67]
|
0.000
|
No
|
204(58.6%)
|
14(29.2%)
|
1
|
Habit of regular finger trimming
|
Yes
|
308(88.5%)
|
40(83.3%)
|
1.65[0.90-5.22]
|
0.226
|
No
|
40(11.5%)
|
8(16.7%)
|
1
|
Personal hygiene
|
Good
|
176(50.6%)
|
11(22.9%)
|
3.39[1.51-10.23]
|
0.000
0.001
|
Fair
|
152(43.7%)
|
23(47.9%)
|
2.17[0.99-9.97]
|
Poor
|
20(5.7%)
|
14(29.2%)
|
1
|
Training on safe food processing and hygiene
|
Yes
|
23(6.6%)
|
2(4.2%)
|
0.56[0.61-5.11]
|
0.463
|
No
|
325(93.4%)
|
46(95.8%)
|
1
|
Regular medical check up
|
Yes
|
39(11.2%)
|
4(8.3%)
|
1.56[0.75-3.15]
|
0.497
|
No
|
309(88.8%)
|
44(91.7%)
|
1
|
Habit of wearing protective coat during cooking
|
Yes
|
150(43.1%)
|
16(33.3%)
|
1.50[0.87-4.35]
|
0.141
|
No
|
198(56.9%)
|
32(66.7%)
|
1
|
In addition, food handlers those always wash their hands after visiting toilet was took the higher proportion of intestinal parasitic infections even though not showed statistical significance (AOR=1.37, 95% CI=63-3.25). The remaining associated factors like; habit of regular finger trimming, ever heard about hygiene and hand washing habit before food preparation had showed no statistical association with intestinal parasitic infections (p>0.05) (Table 3).