HEALTH EDUCATION INTERVENTION TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDE- NTS ON FOOD-BORNE PARASITES, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Morsy, Tosson A.; MOHAMAD, MOHSEN RAGHEB; BADER, IBRAHIM ABDEL HAY; ABDALLAH, ABEER M.; ABDEL RADY, FATMA HOSNY

doi:10.21608/jesp.2025.447391

HEALTH EDUCATION INTERVENTION TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDE- NTS ON FOOD-BORNE PARASITES, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt

² Department of Gastroenterology, Air Forces General Hospital, Cairo, 11779, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt

³ Department of Gastroenterology, Air Forces General Hospital, Cairo, 11779, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt.

10.21608/jesp.2025.447391

Abstract

Food-borne parasites (gastrointestinal parasites) are one of the global public health problems that
greatly infect children particularly in developing countries. This study evaluated the effect of health
educational intervention to secondary school students on food-borne parasites. Design: A quasi exp
erimental research design. Setting: The study was conducted at the governmental secondary school,
Cairo Governorate. Sampling: A multistage cluster random sample of 188 students was divided into
2 groups; G1: Control (n=88) received only standardized anti-parasitic treatment and G2 examined
(n=100) subjected to health education program and standardized anti-parasitic treatment. Tools: 1-
Morning macro & microscopic stained stool examinations. 2- Interview questionnaires & 3- Observ
ational checklist for personal hygiene. The results showed parasitic prevalence of 38.0%; in a desce-
ending order of abundance were Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, Ascaris lumbricoides,
Giardia lamblia and then Entamoeba histolytica/dispara and a single case of Blastocystis hominis.
Parasitic risk was more or less a socioeconomic status, significant differences among them as to
knowledge, health attitude, and personal hygiene after the program implementation. Albendazole®
treated all infected students, but two enterobiasis cases needed repeated course and follow-up tests
after among intervention group.

Keywords