title: Prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients of a Ghanaian psychiatry hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neglected tropical diseases are of major concern to sub-Saharan African countries. Though efforts to monitor the prevalence and control are in place, these are mostly restricted to groups within the population. This study was performed to determine the prevalence among patients of a Ghanaian psychiatric hospital and find out whether there is a reason for active monitoring in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients of a Ghanaian psychiatric hospital. Stool samples were collected and analyzed in addition to data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 111 patients studied, asymptomatic carriage of parasites was 13.5 % and was higher in males (18.8 %) than in females (4.8 %). Carriage of parasites decreased with age but increase with duration of admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of parasitic pathogens among patients of a psychiatric institution in Ghana. The data shows that there are risks of transmission of infectious diseases via the oral route hence, the need for regular monitoring and intervention is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. koduedu@gmail.com.|Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. koduedu@gmail.com.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana. koduedu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kwabena O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Duedu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. kkyaw2003@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yaw A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Karikari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. skwakuattah@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Simon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Attah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. payehkumi@yahoo.com.|Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. payehkumi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Patrick F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ayeh-Kumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology