Vegetable-transmitted parasites among inhabitants of El-Prince, Alexandria and its relation to housewives' knowledge and practices.
In the present study, stool samples were obtained from 575 individuals from El-Prince, a suburban village of Alexandria, Egypt to detect helminthic eggs and protozoan cysts. The results showed that, 35.7% of the sample had at least one vegetable-transmitted parasite, the highest percentage (46.4%) was in the age group of 6 to less than 15 years. The nematode Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent in 18.4%, followed by the protozoan Giardia lamblia in 10.4%. Fasciola eggs were found in 2.4% of samples. Knowledge and practices of housewives concerning Fasciola and its source of transmission and methods of washing leafy vegetables was obtained through house-to-house interviews with 303 housewives. Knowledge that leafy vegetables were a source of Fasciola infection was indirectly proportional with better in younger housewives and those of secondary or higher education. More than half of the interviewed housewives (57.7%) washed leafy vegetables under running tap water and 32.7% soaked them in tap water. Only 9.6% soaked them in water mixed with a substance as vinegar, lemon juice or common salt. Only 5% of those who were infected with vegetable transmitted parasites washed vegetables by soaking in water with an added substance compared to 19.6% of parasite free housewives. Most of those adding a substance to soaking water (89.7%) used vinegar. Results of the study revealed that a serious and consistent effort through public health activities is essential to educate housewives about vegetable-transmitted parasites, their transmission and ways of prevention.
Fawzi
Mohamed
M
Department of Nutrition (Food Hygiene and Control), High Institute of Public Health.
El-Sahn
Amel A
AA
Ibrahim
Hanan F
HF
Shehata
Amany I
AI
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004534:Egypt; D005209:Fasciola / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009348:Nematoda / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018454:Spouses; D014675:Vegetables / Q000469:parasitology*