Investigating Intestinal Parasites Infection among University Studentsat Jiblah University for Medical and Health Sciences, Yemen, 2024

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associated risk factors among 200 students at Jiblah University,
Ibb, Yemen.

Methods and Result: Sociodemographic data showed that 55.5% of participants were female, 41.5% were over 23 years old, and 77.5% lived in
urban areas. The prevalence of intestinal parasites infected was 42.5%. The most common of intestinal parasites were Entamoeba histolytica (76.5%),
followed by Giardia lamblia (9.5%). The intestinal parasites were higher among groups aged fewer than 21 years (49.2%) and those aged 21-22 years (48%), male (43.8%) and female group (41.4%), while it was (42.8%) in students from urban areas, and (41.5%) from rural areas. Moreover, it was
observed that intestinal parasitic infections were higher among students who sometimes or never washed fruits and vegetables before eating (58.1%) with a p= (0.019. Finally, the intestinal parasites infected were higher (50%) among students who ate in restaurants.  

Conclusion: The findings from the current study revealed that intestinal parasites infection was higher among the group under 21 years old, male,
married, urban, students who sometimes or never washed fruits and vegetables before eating and students who ate in restaurants.