Prevalence and determinants of intestinal parasitic infections among immigrants in refugee camps in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.
9 affiliations
- 1Medical Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Département of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Axum University, Axum, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 2Department of Public Health Nutrition, College of Medicine and Health Science, Axum University, Axum, Ethiopia.
- 3Department of Public Health, College of Health Science and Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Axum University, Axum, Ethiopia.
- 4Vector Biology and Immunology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical Parasitology, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.
- 5Unit of Medical Microbiology, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Raya University, Raya University, Maychew, Ethiopia.
- 6Medical Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Département of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Axum University, Axum, Ethiopia.
- 7Unit of Medical Microbiology, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Axum University, Axum, Ethiopia.
- 8Département of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical Parasitology, Axum University, Axum, Ethiopia.
- 9Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Abstract
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.
Related
- Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their association with academic achievement indicators: a cross-sectional study
- Burden of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and the Intensity of Helminth Infection Among Primary School Children in Sidama, Ethiopia: A Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Analysis.
- High prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among asymptomatic individuals in rural and urban communities in conflict-affected Northwest Cameroon.
- The distribution and association of parasitic infections among human blood group in selected health facilities in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia: cross-sectional study, 2025
- Virulence determinants of Fusarium oxysporum for clinical infections
BibTeX
@article{teklu2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and determinants of intestinal parasitic infections among immigrants in refugee camps in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.}},
author = {Gebregiorgis Teklu and Ebud Ayele and Hailay Gebreyesus and Merhawi Alemu and Mulugeta Kiros and Letebrhan Hagos and Gebretsadkan Gebrekiristos and Tuemelsan Gebrewahis and Kiros Tedla and Gessessew Bugssa},
journal = {BMC infectious diseases},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12879-026-14137-1},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972509},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence and determinants of intestinal parasitic infections among immigrants in refugee camps in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.
AU - Gebregiorgis Teklu
AU - Ebud Ayele
AU - Hailay Gebreyesus
AU - Merhawi Alemu
AU - Mulugeta Kiros
AU - Letebrhan Hagos
AU - Gebretsadkan Gebrekiristos
AU - Tuemelsan Gebrewahis
AU - Kiros Tedla
AU - Gessessew Bugssa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - BMC infectious diseases
DO - 10.1186/s12879-026-14137-1
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972509
AB - 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.
SN - 1471-2334
ER -