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.
