Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Prevention of Intestinal Helminth Infection Among Residents of the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana

Overview

Journal J Parasitol Res

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Parasitology

Date 2023 Dec 18

PMID 38107429

Authors

Verner N Orish

Moses A Asumbono

Isaac B Addei

Moses A Ayaaba

Precious K Kwadzokpui

Aleksandra Marinkovic

Stephanie Prakash

Chuku Okorie

Ricardo Izurieta

Rajashree Pandit

Adekunle Sanyaolu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practices of residents in the Ho municipality towards intestinal helminth infections and their prevention.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving questionnaire administration was conducted among randomly sampled residents of the Ho municipality of the Volta Region of Ghana. A minimum sample size of 400 was calculated for subjects using Yamane's formula for population. Pearson's chi-square analysis was done to determine any relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and the categories of knowledge, attitude, and practices. Results from data analysis were computed as frequencies and percentages. < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Results: Of the 400 participants, 343 (85.7%) were aware of intestinal helminths, but the majority had poor knowledge of its cause despite 50.5% (202) having good knowledge scores. Most participants (331, 82.8%) had a bad attitude toward preventing the disease. Most (335, 83.8%) of the community members still adhered to the poor practice of open defecation with the excuse of unavailable latrines, and some (143, 35.8%) believe that intestinal helminths are nothing to worry about.

Conclusion: Health education should address the perceptions towards preventing intestinal helminthiasis and be complemented by making available public lavatories in the municipality to curb the unacceptable practice of open defecation.

References

Abaka-Yawson A, Senoo D, Aboagye E, Hotorvi C, Tawiah P, Sosu S . High prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection among children under 5 years in a rural Ghanaian community: an urgent call for attention. J Parasit Dis. 2020; 44(3):625-632. PMC: 7410904. DOI: 10.1007/s12639-020-01239-z. View

Jin H, Ryu K, Lee D, Vonghachack Y, Choi M, Hong S . Prevalence and Risk Factors of Intestinal Helminthiasis in Remote Mountainous Villages of Northern Lao PDR: A Cross-Sectional Study. Korean J Parasitol. 2021; 59(2):131-138. PMC: 8106991. DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.2.131. View

Schmidlin T, Hurlimann E, Silue K, Yapi R, Houngbedji C, Kouadio B . Effects of hygiene and defecation behavior on helminths and intestinal protozoa infections in Taabo, Côte d'Ivoire. PLoS One. 2013; 8(6):e65722. PMC: 3688730. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065722. View

Pullan R, Smith J, Jasrasaria R, Brooker S . Global numbers of infection and disease burden of soil transmitted helminth infections in 2010. Parasit Vectors. 2014; 7:37. PMC: 3905661. DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-37. View

Akpakli D, Manyeh A, Akpakli J, Kukula V, Gyapong M . Determinants of access to improved sanitation facilities in rural districts of southern Ghana: evidence from Dodowa Health and Demographic Surveillance Site. BMC Res Notes. 2018; 11(1):473. PMC: 6045853. DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3572-6. View

Rwamwejo F, Ndatinya G, Mkata M, Blauman A, Regnier D, Lackner S . Assessing the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perspectives of stakeholders of the deworming program in rural Rwanda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023; 17(8):e0010759. PMC: 10437854. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010759. View

Ahiadorme M, Morhe E . Soil transmitted helminth infections in Ghana: a ten year review. Pan Afr Med J. 2020; 35:131. PMC: 7335259. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.35.131.21069. View

Seitzer M, Klapper S, Mazigo H, Holzgrabe U, Mueller A . Quality and composition of Albendazole, Mebendazole and Praziquantel available in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Tanzania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021; 15(1):e0009038. PMC: 7861518. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009038. View

Kpene G, Lokpo S, Deku J, Agboli E, Owiafe P . Asymptomatic Intestinal Parasitic Infestations among Children Under Five Years in Selected Communities in the Ho Municipality, Ghana. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2021; 30(6):867-874. PMC: 8047240. DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v30i6.3. View

10.

Lu L, Liu C, Zhang L, Medina A, Smith S, Rozelle S . Gut instincts: knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding soil-transmitted helminths in rural China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015; 9(3):e0003643. PMC: 4373855. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003643. View

11.

Acka C, Raso G, NGoran E, Tschannen A, Bogoch I, Seraphin E . Parasitic worms: knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Western Côte d'Ivoire with implications for integrated control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011; 4(12):e910. PMC: 3006135. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000910. View

12.

Orish V, Ofori-Amoah J, Amegan-Aho K, Osei-Yeboah J, Lokpo S, Osisiogu E . Prevalence of Polyparasitic Infection Among Primary School Children in the Volta Region of Ghana. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019; 6(4):ofz153. PMC: 6475583. DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz153. View

13.

Molyneux D, Aboe A, Isiyaku S, Bush S . COVID-19 and neglected tropical diseases in Africa: impacts, interactions, consequences. Int Health. 2020; 12(5):367-372. PMC: 7443717. DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihaa040. View

14.

Okeniyi J, Ogunlesi T, Oyelami O, Adeyemi L . Effectiveness of dried Carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis: a pilot study. J Med Food. 2007; 10(1):194-6. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2005.065. View

15.

Ali S, Niaz S, Aguilar-Marcelino L, Ali W, Ali M, Khan A . Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides in contaminated faecal samples of children residing in urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan. Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1):21815. PMC: 7733436. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78743-y. View