Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
J Environ Public Health. 2020 Sep 8;2020:9315025. doi: 10.1155/2020/9315025. eCollection 2020.
Intestinal parasitic infections affect pregnant women worldwide. The infection has been implicated in causing life-threatening conditions in both gravid women and their developing foetus. Sub-Saharan Africa is known to harbor the greatest proportion of intestinal parasitic infections largely due to socioeconomic and environmental factors. In Kasoa, Southern Ghana, there is paucity of data on the prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women.
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Kasoa Polyclinic.
A hospital based analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among three hundred (300) conveniently sampled pregnant women receiving antenatal care services at the Kasoa Polyclinic. Structured questionnaires were administered to the study participants to assess sociodemographic and other possible factors. Stool samples were collected from each pregnant woman and examined for the presence of intestinal parasites by microscopy using direct wet mount as well as formol-ether sedimentation techniques.
Overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 14.3% (95% CI 11-19%). (5.0%) was the most predominant parasite species identified followed by (4.3%), (2.3%), (1.3%), (0.3%), Hookworm (0.3%), (0.3%), and (0.3%). Age > 30 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.06-0.48; =0.001), multigravidity (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.19-0.97; =0.043), and 2 and 3 trimesters (AOR = 4.73, 95% CI = 1.36-16.49; =0.015) were independently associated with intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women.
A prevalence of 14.3% pregnant women compared to previous studies in Ghana is relatively low. It however suggests that intestinal parasitic infection is still a problem. The major factors noted were age, gravidity, and gestational age. Routine stool examination and provision of public health education are recommended to prevent infection of pregnant mothers and their unborn babies.
肠道寄生虫感染影响全球范围内的孕妇。该感染已被认为与孕妇及其发育中的胎儿的危及生命的状况有关。由于社会经济和环境因素，撒哈拉以南非洲地区已知拥有最大比例的肠道寄生虫感染。在加纳南部的卡索阿，关于孕妇肠道寄生虫感染的患病率和相关因素的数据很少。
本研究旨在确定卡索阿综合诊所接受产前保健服务的孕妇中肠道寄生虫感染的患病率和相关因素。
对 300 名接受产前保健服务的孕妇进行了一项基于医院的分析性横断面研究。对研究参与者进行了结构化问卷评估，以评估社会人口统计学和其他可能的因素。从每位孕妇采集粪便样本，并使用直接湿载片和福尔马林乙醚沉淀技术通过显微镜检查粪便样本以确定是否存在肠道寄生虫。
总体而言，肠道寄生虫的患病率为 14.3%（95%CI 11-19%）。 （5.0%）是最主要的寄生虫种类，其次是 （4.3%）、 （2.3%）、 （1.3%）、 （0.3%）、钩虫（0.3%）、 （0.3%）和 （0.3%）。年龄>30 岁（AOR=0.17，95%CI=0.06-0.48；=0.001）、多胎次（AOR=0.43，95%CI=0.19-0.97；=0.043）和 2 至 3 妊娠期（AOR=4.73，95%CI=1.36-16.49；=0.015）与孕妇的肠道寄生虫感染独立相关。
与加纳之前的研究相比，孕妇的患病率为 14.3%相对较低。然而，这表明肠道寄生虫感染仍然是一个问题。注意到的主要因素是年龄、孕次和孕龄。建议常规粪便检查和提供公共卫生教育，以防止孕妇及其未出生婴儿感染。
