PREVALENCE OF AMOEBA SPECIES AND INTESTINAL HELMINTH AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD Case study: Nkombo Health Center Period: May 2019- June 2022

Abstract

The study aimed to describe the prevalence of amoeba species and intestinal helminths among children under 5 years old attending Nkombo health center. The study’s specific objective were 1) To determine the prevalence of amoeba species among children under 5 years 2) To determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths among children under 5 years old, and 3) To assess the various risk factors associated with the amoeba species and intestinal helminths among children under 5 years attending Nkombo health in the period of 3 years from May 20219 –June 2022. Retrospectively cross-sectional study design with both quantitative and qualitative approach was adopted, secondary data were used on the prevalence of amoeba species and intestinal helminths and risk factors was collected from consultation book and laboratory results books, The study include 168 children under 5 years old ,Spss software version 16 was used in analysis of data. The prevalence of amoeba species and intestinal helminth among children under-five years at Nkombo health center were Entamoeba histolytic 17.3%, Entamoeba coli 2.4%, Ascaris lumbricoides 25.0%, Trichuris trichiura 10.1%, Ankylostoma duodenal 6.0%, Schistosoma mansoni 3.0% and Strongyiloiedes stercolaris 2.4%. Results from this study has shown that factors associated with the prevalence of amoeba species and intestinal helminthes 66.1% of participant are positive to amoeba species and intestinal helminthes while 33.9% were negative to that parasites, study showed that 64.5% has habit of washing their hand before eating while 35.7% not doing, 35.7% were affected by these parasites during the raining time while 64.3% were affected during summer time. Among these children, 57.1%, drank untreated water while 42.9% drank treated water. Among these children 50% wash their hands after toilette and 50% do not wash their hands after toilette. a chi-squared value of

22.966a and p-value of .000 are for Wearing shoes, use human feces as fertilizer with the chi- squared value of 11.031a and p-value of .000, wash hands before eating with the chi-squared

value of 27.276a and p-value of .000, wash hands after toilette with the chi-squared value of

49.096a and p-value of .000. And water treatment with the chi-squared value of 29.263a and p- value of .000. In conclusion all these risk factors were significant to the prevalence of Amoeba

species and intestinal helminth at Nkombo health center. From the findings of this study, it is factual to recommend the local authority will make more effort in case of decentralized water to the population for better hygiene practices.