Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, BPKIHS, Dharan, Nepal.

M.Sc. student, Dept. of Microbiology, Sunsari Technical College Pvt. Ltd., Dharan, Nepal.

Professor & Chief, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, BPKIHS, Dharan, Nepal.
Anaemia ,Protozoan infestation ,Tea Estates workers ,Ilam ,

Anemia is a public health concern in developing countries especially among vulnerable populations. The prevalence of anemia associated with intestinal protozoan infections among the Tea Estates workers in the rural communes of Nepal is largely unknown. Objectives to find out the association between anaemia and protozoan infestation among the tea garden workers in Ilam district of Nepal. A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among tea garden workers in Ilam district of Nepal. Out of 4 tea estates in Ilam District, 2 tea estates (Ilam Municipality and Kanyam) were selected randomly. Out of total 150 tea workers (30 in Ilam Municipality and 120 in Kanyam), 98 workers participated in the study. Semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the study subjects and Microscopic Examination of Stool was done. Haemoglobin level was determined by cyanmethemoglobin method. The Chi-square test was used to find the association between anaemia and protozoan infestation among the tea garden workers in Ilam district of Nepal. The prevalence of anaemia was seen significantly lower among study population infected with protozoa (18.2%) than protozoa negative (51.3%) (P<0.05). Regarding category of anemia, mild anaemia was seen higher (75%) among protozoa positive in comparison to moderate anemia (25%) but the difference was not significant. The prevalence of anaemia was seen higher among the tea garden workers infected with Entamoeba histolytica (20%) than Giardia lamblia (16.7%) but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The prevalence of anaemia was seen lower among the tea garden workers infected with protozoa. Anaemia was seen higher among workers infected with Entamoeba histolytica than Giardia lamblia.

6 , 7 , 2016