DOI: 10.51972/tfsd.1971969 ISSN: 2717-7173

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Associated Factors Among Preschool Children in Suşehri District of Sivas, Türkiye

Sema Nur Yıldırım, Muhammed Akif Sami Toker, Murat Arslan, Ahmet Duran Ataş
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Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among preschool children and to investigate factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 137 children aged 3–6 years attending preschool educational institutions in Suşehri district of Sivas, Türkiye. One stool sample and one cellophane tape specimen were collected from each child. Stool samples were examined using saline and Lugol’s iodine wet mount preparations, while cellophane tape specimens were evaluated by direct microscopic examination. Sociodemographic, nutritional, hygiene-related, and environmental data were collected using a Personal Information Form. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used for data analysis.Results: At least one intestinal parasite was detected in 15.3% (n = 21) of the children. The most frequently identified parasite was Entamoeba coli (11.7%), followed by Giardia intestinalis (4.4%) and Enterobius vermicularis (1.5%). More than one parasite species was detected in 2.2% of the children. Among the variables examined, only paternal educational level was significantly associated with intestinal parasite positivity (p = 0.008). No significant associations were found between intestinal parasite positivity and age, sex, household income, maternal educational level, parental employment status, dietary habits, hygiene practices, or environmental characteristics (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The findings indicate that intestinal parasites remain an important health problem among preschool children. The predominance of Entamoeba coli highlights the importance of hygiene practices in preventing fecal–oral transmission. The results may contribute to the planning of preventive health services in preschool institutions and to the development of public health nursing practices.

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