The role of family size, employment and education of parents in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in school children in Accra

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in school children are a public health problem in most developing countries.</p><p>Methods and principal findings</p><p>A cross sectional survey was conducted from May to July 2016 with school children living in overcrowded urban slums in Accra, Ghana. A simple random sample of 300 children aged 2–9 years was collected. The study used structured pre-tested questionnaire and stool tests to obtain information on epidemiological, sanitation habits, employment and education status of parents and children. Data were analysed using appropriate descriptive, univariate and multivariable logistic tools of analyses. The mean age of participants was 6.9 years and 49% were males and 51.3% were females. <i>Giardia lamblia</i> was found in males (10.95%) and females (7.79%). Very low prevalences for <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i>, <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i>, <i>Taenia</i> species, and <i>Entamoeba coli</i> were detected. Whilst children from mothers (62.2%) and fathers (55.6%) with no education were often infected, a few children from fathers (22.2%) and mothers (6.7%) with no jobs were infected. Most of the infected children’s (93.7%) parents did not have any knowledge of IPIs. The educational and employment status of the mothers [p = 1.0 and p = 0.422] was not significant, however, the family size was a predisposing factor (p = 0.031) for parasitic infections.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Intestinal parasites were prevalent in children from overcrowded families and with no knowledge of IPIs. Educative programmes on IPIs, improving hygiene, and application of supportive programmes to elevate socioeconomic conditions may help reduce the burden of intestinal parasite carriage in children.</p></div

Univariate analysis of parents’ education and occupation with intestinal parasitic infection among children 2 to 9 years of age, residing in urban slums in Accra, Ghana who provided a stool sample for this study.

<p>Univariate analysis of parents’ education and occupation with intestinal parasitic infection among children 2 to 9 years of age, residing in urban slums in Accra, Ghana who provided a stool sample for this study.</p

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among the school children.

<p>Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among the school children.</p

Bivariate analysis for factors potentially associated with Intestinal parasites among children 2 to 9 years of age, residing in urban slums in Accra, Ghana who provided a stool sample for this study.

<p>Bivariate analysis for factors potentially associated with Intestinal parasites among children 2 to 9 years of age, residing in urban slums in Accra, Ghana who provided a stool sample for this study.</p

Additional file 1 of Coverage of preventive measures and surveillance for neglected tropical diseases in hard-to-reach communities in Ghana

Additional file 1: S1. File Household Questionnaire-2