Hookworm infection among the Melka Sedi banana plantation residents, middle Awash Valley, Ethiopia.

A study of intestinal parasites was done among the people who lived within the banana plantation zone of the Melka Sedi Agricultural Enterprise, Awash Valley, Ethiopia in April 1987. The methods of parasite detection were the Ritchie formal ether and the charcoal culture method for hookworm larvae species identification. From the total 633 population, 311 were examined at random of whom 60.8% were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. Eight parasites were encountered, Ascaris lumbricoides in 1.3%, Trichuris trichiura in 6.4%, Strongyloides stercoralis in 3.9%, hookworm in 53.1%, Taenia sp. in 3.5%, Schistosoma mansoni in 1.9%, Entamoeba histolytica in 0.6% and Hymenolepis sp. in 0.6%. Prevalence of hookworm infection was significantly higher than that of any of the other parasites (p less than 0.001). In the hookworm infected individuals there were more males than females, and the 25 to 34 year age group had significantly higher infection rates (p less than 0.05). The majority of those with hookworm were banana plantation workers. This communication emphasizes the basic guidelines for control and prevention of hookworm and other related faecal/soil-borne infections in this and similar agricultural settings.