Prevalence and Determinants of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care in Kasoa Polyclinic, Ghana

Albert Abaka-Yawson; Solomon Quarshie Sosu; Precious Kwablah Kwadzokpui; Salomey Afari; Samuel Adusei; John Arko-Mensah

doi:10.1155/2020/9315025

Prevalence and Determinants of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care in Kasoa Polyclinic, Ghana

J Environ Public Health. 2020 Sep 8:2020:9315025. doi: 10.1155/2020/9315025. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Albert Abaka-Yawson^{1

2}, Solomon Quarshie Sosu², Precious Kwablah Kwadzokpui², Salomey Afari³, Samuel Adusei⁴, John Arko-Mensah¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
² Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
³ Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract

Background: 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.

Objective: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: Overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 14.3% (95% CI 11-19%). Entamoeba histolytica (5.0%) was the most predominant parasite species identified followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (4.3%), Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Trichuris trichiura (1.3%), Schistosoma mansoni (0.3%), Hookworm (0.3%), Hymenolepis nana (0.3%), and Isospora belli (0.3%). Age > 30 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.06-0.48; p=0.001), multigravidity (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.19-0.97; p=0.043), and 2^nd and 3^rd trimesters (AOR = 4.73, 95% CI = 1.36-16.49; p=0.015) were independently associated with intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women.

Conclusions: 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.

MeSH terms

Adult
Animals
Cross-Sectional Studies
Feces / parasitology
Female
Ghana / epidemiology
Humans
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology*
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology*
Middle Aged
Parasites / classification
Parasites / isolation & purification*
Pregnancy
Prenatal Care / statistics & numerical data*
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Young Adult