Prevalence and Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Farmers in Developing Countries: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i5.2241Keywords:
agricultural workers, developing countries, intestinal parasites, prevalence, risk factorsAbstract
Intestinal parasitic infections remain a serious public health challenge in developing countries, particularly among high-risk population groups such as farmers and agricultural workers. This literature review aims to describe the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections, identify the most dominant parasite species, and analyze associated risk factors in adult farmers and agricultural workers. A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect using Boolean keyword combinations for articles published between 2021 and 2026. Of 687 articles identified, 10 were screened, and four cross-sectional studies from Nepal, Senegal, and Ethiopia were selected based on pre-defined inclusion criteria: original research, adult populations aged ≥18 years, farmer or agricultural worker communities, and reporting of both prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections. Results showed that the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections ranged from 22.2% to 54% across study sites, with hookworms (Necator americanus/Ancylostoma duodenale) and Giardia lamblia as the most consistently dominant species.
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