Relationship Between Household Water Quality and the Incidence of Intestinal Protozoa Infection in Children

Abstract

Intestinal protozoa infections remain a public health concern, particularly in areas with poor sanitation. One of the main transmission routes is via water contaminated with protozoan cysts. This study aimed to determine the association between household water quality and the incidence of intestinal protozoa infection in children. Data were collected using questionnaires and microscopic laboratory examinations of fecal and drinking water samples. This observational analytic study employed a cross-sectional design involving 50 students. The results showed that 62% of participants were infected with intestinal protozoa. Among children who consumed refillable gallon drinking water, 44.4% were infected, while infection was observed in 71.9% of those who consumed well water. Statistical analysis yielded a p-value of 0.055. Infection prevalence among children whose household drinking water was contaminated was 50%, compared to 63.3% among those whose water was not contaminated (p = 0.52). Conclusion: No significant association was found between household water quality and intestinal protozoa infection; however, there was a tendency toward higher risk among users of well water.