Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Human Intestinal Helminths Parasitic Infections in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Intestinal helminth infections are still public health problems in tropical and subtropical countries including Ethiopia. This review and meta-analysis aimed to produce the pooled prevalence and associated risk factors of human intestinal helminth parasitic infections (HIHPIs) in Ethiopia.

Methods: Articles written in English were searched from online databases. Sixty-seven studies were included. Meta-analysis was computed using STATA version 14.

Result: The pooled prevalence of HIHPIs was (33.35%, 95% CI: 28.85%, 37.86%). (10.84%, 95% CI: 9.34, 12.34), hookworm spp. (8.89%, 95% CI: 7.75, 10.04), (4.22%, 95% CI: 3.64, 4.81), (2.51%, 95% CI: 2.17, 2.86), (2.29%, 95% CI: 1.96, 2.63), species (1.01%, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.22), (1.17%, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.41), and (0.71%, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.90) were recorded. Handwashing before food (OR: 5.22,95% CI: 3.49, 6.94), handwashing after toilet (OR: 3.03, 95%; CI: 1.01, 5.05), age (OR: 1.66, 95% CL. 1.09, 2.23), open defecation (OR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.60, 3.24), eating raw and unwashed vegetables/fruits (OR: 1.98, 95%; CI: 1.30, 2.66), maternal education (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 0.91, 2.72), family income (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 0.87, 3.31), source of drinking water (OR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.96, 4.27), swimming/contact with river water (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.69), barefoot (OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.67, 4.88), playing with soil (OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.40, 3.88), and family size (OR: 3.75, 95% CI: 2.03, 5.46) were factors associated with HIHPIs in Ethiopia. High heterogeneity of the prevalence of HIHPIs was observed among the studies within and among regions (I > 99.6% and ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: HIHPIs in Ethiopia were significantly high. Therefore, special attention should be given by all stakeholders to minimize HIHPIs in Ethiopia.