Prevalence and aetiological agents of parasitic infestation among population in northern Namibia.

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infestations continues to be a public health burden in many developing countries. A hospital based cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted for the period June to December 2013 at Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (IHO), northern Namibia, to assess the prevalence of parasitic infestation. A total of 1000 stool specimens were analysed for intestinal parasites at Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) Oshakati laboratory based on all patients who submitted specimen during the study period. Data on age, gender, species of parasites and dual infection were tallied on the data collection sheet from microbiology stool bench work cards and laboratory information system, and was imported to and analysed by Microsoft Excel. Of the 1000 patients under review 138 (13.8%) patients had either dual or mono infestation by different species of parasites, of which 128 (12.8%) had mono parasitic infection, while 10 (1%) had dual infection. Entamoeba coli was the most (5.5%) prevalent intestinal parasites, followed by Giardia lamblia (4.4%) and Entamoeba histolytic (1.7%). The most affected age group was the 76-90 years old due to personal hygiene and the rural environment where most live under poor sanitation and portable water problems. Females (18.6%) were twice as much at risk of intestinal parasites infection than their male (9.7%) counter parts. Communal hand washing, absence of proper human waste disposal in rural areas and informal urban settlements may be attributed as predisposing factors. Drastic public health measures as provision of pit latrines and health education on intestinal parasites will go a long way in reducing these high prevalence rates. The mass deworming exercises currently being undertaken among school children should be expanded to cover older people.