Risk Factors for Symptomatic Giardia Lamblia and Entameba Histolytica Infection Among Children Under 5 Years of Age in Al-Sabeen Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen, A Case-Control Study

Protozoal infestation remains a major health issue by causing recurrent or chronic diarrhea among young children which are reflected in the general nutritional and health status children. This problem magnifies in situations of poor water supplies such as in Yemen. The aim of the study was to determine common risk factors associated with the infection of G. lamblia and E.histolytica among children under 5 years of age. Unmatched case-control study was conducted to estimate the risk factors associated with acute diarrhea caused by E.histolytica and G.lamblia among children under 5 years of age who had their stools examined at Al- Sabeen Hospital laboratory.66.6 % of children's mothers in the cases group used to wash the bottle only by water compared to 17.6 % of those in the control group. Mothers of children in the cases group were less likely to wash their breasts before feeding babies, 15.8 %, compared to mothers in the control group, 60 %, and were less likely to wash their hands before feeding their babies, 35 % compared to 85 % in the control group. We can conclude that inappropriate bottle washing was an important risk factor for the acquisition of intestinal infections. Significant protective factors were found in mothers who washed their nipples before breast-feeding, washed their hands after changing the baby's diaper and in mothers who washed their hands before feeding the child.