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Background <p>Intestinal parasitic infections represent a significant health challenge globally. The World Health Organization recognizes that refugees are particularly susceptible to intestinal parasites. Refugee populations are especially vulnerable to intestinal parasitic infections due to unfavorable environmental and socioeconomic conditions, including overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, unsafe water supplies, and limited healthcare access. Nevertheless, epidemiological data on the prevalence and determinants of these infections among refugees in Ethiopia are limited especially within the Tigray refugee camps. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and determinant factors among immigrants in refugee camps of Tigray, northern Ethiopia.</p> Method <p>A Community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 422 selected participants using a systematic random sampling method from February to May 2020, in Shimelba and Hitsats refugee camps. Questionnaires and laboratory investigations were used to collect data. Stool samples were examined using wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques based on standard procedures. Data were entered using Epi-data version 3.1 and analysed using SPSS version 25.0. Bivariable and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with intestinal parasitic infection. Variables with p-value ≤ 0.25 level of significance using bivariable logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. The significance level was declared at a p-value of &lt; 0.05 in the final model and the model’s goodness-of-fit was assessed using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test.</p> Result <p>The overall prevalence of protozoan parasites were 18.96% (80/422) and the prevalence of helminthes were 7.6% (32/422). The predominant parasite was <i>Giardia lamblia</i> (49) followed by <i>Entamoeba histolytica/dispar</i> (31), <i>H. nana</i> (12), <i>S. mansoni</i> (8), <i>A. lumbercoides</i> (5), Hookworm (3), and E. <i>vermicularis</i> (2). Absence of hand washing with soap before meals [AOR = 2.3; 95% CI (1.26, 4.36) dirty fingernails [AOR = 2.04; 95% CI (1.18, 3.53)], open field defecation [AOR = 2.1; 95% CI (1.12, 3.93)] and eating raw or poorly washed vegetables [AOR = 2.7; 95% CI (1.32, 5.34)] showed statistically significance with intestinal parasitic infections.</p> Conclusion <p>Intestinal parasitic infections were moderate prevalent among immigrants according the WHO Intestinal parasite prevalence classification. The present study revealed that intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant public health problem among refugees residing in refugee camps. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was considerable, indicating ongoing transmission within the camp settings. Therefore, improving health education on hand washing practice before meals, avoiding open field defecation, cleanliness of fingernails, avoiding eating raw or poorly washed vegetables and assisting with water and sanitary facilities should be considered to help reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites among immigrants. Tailored interventional studies are also recommended to identify the correlations between displacement and intestinal parasitic infections to improve the health conditions of immigrants in Ethiopia and in settings with the same problem.</p> Clinical trail number <p>Not applicable.</p>

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Prevalence and determinants of intestinal parasitic infections among immigrants in refugee camps in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月5日

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  • Gebregiorgis Teklu,
  • Ebud Ayele,
  • Hailay Gebreyesus,
  • Merhawi Alemu,
  • Mulugeta Kiros,
  • Letebrhan Hagos,
  • Gebretsadkan Gebrekiristos,
  • Tuemelsan Gebrewahis,
  • Kiros Tedla,
  • Gessessew Bugssa

摘要

Background

Intestinal parasitic infections represent a significant health challenge globally. The World Health Organization recognizes that refugees are particularly susceptible to intestinal parasites. Refugee populations are especially vulnerable to intestinal parasitic infections due to unfavorable environmental and socioeconomic conditions, including overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, unsafe water supplies, and limited healthcare access. Nevertheless, epidemiological data on the prevalence and determinants of these infections among refugees in Ethiopia are limited especially within the Tigray refugee camps. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and determinant factors among immigrants in refugee camps of Tigray, northern Ethiopia.

Method

A Community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 422 selected participants using a systematic random sampling method from February to May 2020, in Shimelba and Hitsats refugee camps. Questionnaires and laboratory investigations were used to collect data. Stool samples were examined using wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques based on standard procedures. Data were entered using Epi-data version 3.1 and analysed using SPSS version 25.0. Bivariable and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with intestinal parasitic infection. Variables with p-value ≤ 0.25 level of significance using bivariable logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. The significance level was declared at a p-value of < 0.05 in the final model and the model’s goodness-of-fit was assessed using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test.

Result

The overall prevalence of protozoan parasites were 18.96% (80/422) and the prevalence of helminthes were 7.6% (32/422). The predominant parasite was Giardia lamblia (49) followed by Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (31), H. nana (12), S. mansoni (8), A. lumbercoides (5), Hookworm (3), and E. vermicularis (2). Absence of hand washing with soap before meals [AOR = 2.3; 95% CI (1.26, 4.36) dirty fingernails [AOR = 2.04; 95% CI (1.18, 3.53)], open field defecation [AOR = 2.1; 95% CI (1.12, 3.93)] and eating raw or poorly washed vegetables [AOR = 2.7; 95% CI (1.32, 5.34)] showed statistically significance with intestinal parasitic infections.

Conclusion

Intestinal parasitic infections were moderate prevalent among immigrants according the WHO Intestinal parasite prevalence classification. The present study revealed that intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant public health problem among refugees residing in refugee camps. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was considerable, indicating ongoing transmission within the camp settings. Therefore, improving health education on hand washing practice before meals, avoiding open field defecation, cleanliness of fingernails, avoiding eating raw or poorly washed vegetables and assisting with water and sanitary facilities should be considered to help reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites among immigrants. Tailored interventional studies are also recommended to identify the correlations between displacement and intestinal parasitic infections to improve the health conditions of immigrants in Ethiopia and in settings with the same problem.

Clinical trail number

Not applicable.