Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar among children in Adri Al-Shati, Libya and its relationship with parents' educational level

Abstract

study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar among children in the municipality of Adri-al-Shati and its relationship to the educational level of the parents. A total of 300 stool samples were collected from children during the period from March 2019 to December 2019. The samples were examined using the direct examination method and formalin and ether concentration method. The results showed that the overall prevalence of the parasite was 27.6%. The infection rate was 41.6% in males and 17.7% in females, and the results of the statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between the genders (X2 = 20,788; P<0.001). The prevalence was higher in the age group 1-4 years (34.2%), followed by the age group 9-12 years (23.9%), though there were no significant differences between age groups (X2=4.107; P= 0.128). A high infection rate (40.0%) was recorded among children of parents with primary education compared to children (8.5%) whose parents had high education level. There were significant differences among children according to the educational level of their fathers (X2 = 35.037; P < 0.001). The results showed that the highest rate of infection was reported among children of mothers with a primary educational level (59.6%), while the lowest infection rate (10.6%) was recorded among children of mothers with a high educational level. The statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between children in the rate of infection according to the educational level of their mothers (X2 = 33.883; P < 0.001).