Hindawi Publishing Corporation ISRN Parasitology Volume 2013, Article ID 694731, 7 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2013/694731 Research Article A Retrospective Analysis of the Results of a Five-Year (2005–2009) Parasitological Examination for Common Intestinal Parasites from Bale-Robe Health Center, Robe Town, Southeastern Ethiopia Bayissa Chala Department of Biology, School of Natural Sciences, Adama Science and Technology University, P.O. Box 1888, Adama, Ethiopia Correspondence should be addressed to Bayissa Chala; baychal07@gmail.com Received 22 October 2012; Accepted 21 November 2012 Academic Editors: S. Das, M. De La Garza, and R. Entzeroth Copyright © 2013 Bayissa Chala. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. A cross-sectional retrospective survey using the past �ve years clinical records (2005–2009) was conducted. e study was aimed at assessing the status of common intestinal parasites from Bale-Robe Health Center, Southeastern Ethiopia, in 2009/2010. e survey involved collection of data recorded on intestinal parasite from the health center during 2005–2009. Precoded questionnaires and interviews were also supplemented for knowledge attitude practices survey (KAPs survey) to assess awareness level of treatment seekers. Analysis of the various associations and strength of signi�cant variations among qualitative and quantitative variables were assessed. e results revealed that Entamoeba histolytica (36.1%) and Giardia lamblia (11.0%), both being protozoan parasites were found to be the most prevalent intestinal parasites encountered during 2005–2009. e least prevalent intestinal parasite recorded was Strongyloides stercoralis (1.1%). Most intestinal parasites were detected among age group of 15 years and above than 0–4 and 5–14 years as shown in �able 4. ere was a signi�cant correlation between intestinal parasites prevalence and the age of treatment seeking individuals ( < 0.05). A sharp increasing trend of E. histolytica and Ascaris lumbricoides infections was observed owing to low personal and environmental sanitation of the majority of the society. Initiation of health education at different levels could be recommended to mitigate infectious parasites in the area. 1. Introduction Parasitic infections are among the dominant contributors of morbidity and mortality and, hence, major public health problem worldwide. Many parasitic infections are associated with overcrowding, poor sanitation, contaminated food and water, undernutrition, and other poverty-related factors. Current estimates showed that at least more than one- quarter of the world’s population is chronically infected with intestinal parasites and that most of these infected people live in developing countries [1–3]. Infections due to intestinal parasites are common throughout the tropics, posing serious public health problems in developing countries [4–6]. Intestinal parasitic infections, as in many developing counties, are common in Ethiopia and cause serious public health problems such as malnutrition, anaemia, and growth retardation as well as higher susceptibility to other infections [7]. Environmental factors play a central role in the transmis- sion of intestinal infectious parasites in most rural African countries. e case of Bale-Robe may not be different, since there are enormous accesses by which these intestinal parasites can be transmitted. It is well known that eggs of some intestinal parasites like that of Ascaris lumbricoides and Enterobius vermicularis are carried by blowing dust particles as Bale-Robe appears to be highly favorable for such mode of transmission. As far as sanitation of drinking water and food is con- cerned, there might not be pronounced care for personal and environmental hygiene in Bale-Robe town service providers such as cafeteria, restaurants, and hotels, as intestinal para- sites can be contracted through contaminated food, water, and fomites. Improved sanitation which mainly includes avoidance of food and water contamination and health education about the modes of transmission of infections are the two key