Majallah-i ̒Ilmī-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Simnān (Nov 2007)
Prevalence of oxyuriasis and some related factors in kindergarten and primary school children in urban areas of Semnan province (2005)
Abstract
Introduction: Oxyuriasis is one of the most common infections among children in developed anddeveloping countries. The current study was performed to determine the prevalence of oxyuriasis(Entrobiasis) and related factors in children aged kindergarten and primary school in urban areas ofSemnan province.Material & Methods: In this cross–sectional study, 688 students were selected by stratified–random sampling and a scotch test was prepared from each student. In addition, other data werecollected through questionnaire. Data analyzing was carried out by Chi-Square test and logisticregression. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Prevalence of oxyuriasis among children was 12.5 % (8.1% in kindergarten children and13.4% in primary school children). The prevalence of Oxyuriasis was significantly difference invarious cities of Semnan province; educated students in Damghan were in higher risk than other cities(OR = 2.47, % 95 CI: 1.26– 4.87). In addition, the students whose their mothers were illiterate or loweducation were exposed to higher risk compared to those students whose motherۥ s education were atsecondry or high school level(OR = 0.49 , % 95 CI : 0.29 – 0.84 ) Furthermore, infrequent handwashing after toilet increased the risk of infection (OR = 1.94, % 95 CI: 1.15 – 3.26). The risk ofinfection was higher among the students who had tiredness feeling in comparison with those studentsdid not show this symptom (OR = 2.61, % 95 CI: 1.30 – 5.25). Moreover, the results showed that aprevious history of oxyuriasis increases the risk of future infections (OR=2.73, % 95 CI: 1.58– 4.71).Conclusion: These findings emphasized that personal hygiene education in mothers, especially forilliterate or low educated mothers, is necessary. It is obvious that a continuous education should begiven to mothers until they achieve an appropriate level of education. This approach has more priorityin Damghan.
