Abstract

AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY ON INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFESTATION AMONG URBAN AND RURAL POPULATION OF MEERUT (U.P.)

Praveen Kumar* and Rajesh Praveen

Abstract

In order to investigate the epidemiological investigation of human intestinal parasitic infestation in rural and urban population of Meerut District. Parasitic infestation of gastrointestinal tract is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite the existence of effective parasitic infestations remain a major public health problem. In rural and urban communities, continuing infection is often reinforced by dietary habits. The intestinal parasitism is common in developing countries. Their distribution is mainly associated with poor personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and socio – economic conditions. This study present a survey of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection. A stool examination was performed on 223, randomly selected persons from rural and urban populations of Meerut District. The present study was carried out from 2009 to 2011. The collected stool specimens were examined microscopically for the presence eggs, cysts and trophozoits of intestinal parasites, using simple smear in saline method. Epidemiological data were analyzed using Chi –Squared test. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was significantly higher (χ2 = 25.95, df = 2, P = 5.99 at 0.05 level) in low age group, (χ2 = 31.1, df = 2, P = 5.99 at 0.05 level) in low income group, (χ2 = 6.23, df = 1, P = 0.46 at 0.05 level) in rural population and (χ2 = 1.58, df = 1, P = 0.46 at 0.05 level) in males as compared to females. The present study indicates that a nationwide parasite control project is necessary to reduce the possibility of morbidity and mortality due to parasitic diseases in the country.

Keywords: Intestinal Parasites, Prevalence, Poverty, Epidemiology.