A Retrospective Study of Intestinal Parasite among Patients in the Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Aim: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections among patients who visit the Ho Teaching Hospital for stool examination from 2012 to 2016.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: Ho Teaching Hospital, August 2017 to January 2018.

Methodology: The hospital’s laboratory records were reviewed. Patients’ data were recorded using a well-designed data collection tool. Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0.

Results: A total of 7045 patients visited the Ho Teaching Hospital laboratory for routine stool examination within the five-year period. From the 7045 patients, 703 of them were infected with at least one of the intestinal parasites. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasite infection for the five-year period was 10.0%. Intestinal flagellates (90.0%) were the most predominant intestinal parasites, and Entamoeba histolytica recorded 5.7%. Hookworm (0.9%) was the most prevailing soil-transmitted helminth. Ascaris lumbricoides (0.1%) and Schistosoma mansoni (0.1%) were the least recorded parasites. Highest infection was among patients within age group 20 to 29 years. However, age groups below 10 years recorded low infection. This study showed that age was a risk factor for acquiring intestinal parasite infection (P≤0.001).

Conclusion: Intestinal parasitic infections were recorded among patients who visited the Ho Teaching Hospital. However, most of the patients were infected with intestinal flagellates. Various stakeholders should provide advance techniques in laboratory investigation of stool samples to enhance accurate diagnosis. Sensitization of the public about the dangers of intestinal parasites should also be undertaken by the stakeholders.