Prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections and association with hygiene knowledge among primary school children in Salahutu and Leihitu districts, Central Maluku regency, Indonesia

摘要

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of intestinalprotozoan infections and to determine the association with hygiene knowledge among primaryschoolchildren in Central Maluku regency, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conductedamong fourth- and fifth-grade primary schoolchildren during May to June 2015. Stool specimenswere examined using direct and modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining methods. Hygiene knowledgewas obtained from a pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS? version 22.0statistic software. Of the 170 students surveyed, 69 (40.6%) were infected with one (32.9%)or more (7.7%) intestinal protozoans. The age ranged from 8 to less than 15 years old. Themost frequent protozoan detected was Cryptosporidium sp. (24.7%), followed by Entamoebacoli (13.5%), Giardia lamblia (5.9%), Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (3.5%),Chilomastix mesnili (0.6%), and Iodamoeba bütschlii (0.6%). The most frequently detectedmulti-infection was Cryptosporidium sp. with E. coli (4.1%). Only 10 of 170 students had lackof knowledge regarding hygiene, nevertheless this is a significant risk factor for intestinalprotozoan infections (P < 0.05). Education on personal and environmental hygiene should beimproved and implemented to prevent and control intestinal protozoan infections in thispopulation.