Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children and pregnant women in a low socio-economic area, Chandigarh, North India

Urban slums are well known for their high infant mortality and morbidity rates, and parasitic infections seem to be a common problem among these children. Where as in pregnant women, intestinal parasitic infections (IPI), especially due to helminths, increase anaemia in pregnant women. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of IPI in the school going children and pregnant women attending the primary health care centres in a low socioeconomic area, Chandigarh, North India. Stool samples were collected from 360 children and 87 pregnant women. The stool samples were examined for intestinal parasites by direct microscopic. The prevalence of protozoan infections was much higher than the prevalence of helminth infections. The results indicate that intestinal parasitic infections among school children and pregnant women in the study area are mainly water-borne. The burden of parasitic infestations among the school children, coupled with the poor sanitary conditions in the schools, should be regarded as an issue of public health priority.