الفهرس 
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Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections are globally endemic illness especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Worldwide it is estimated that more than three billion people are infected with intestinal parasites. The majority are children and nearly 300 million infected patients are severely ill (Mehraj et al, 2008). The frequency of parasitic infestation is increasing among children especially in rural area which causes malnutrition, anemia, cognitive impairment and increased susceptibility to other infections to children.
The aim of this study was to improve the health status of children aged from 5 to 15 years old in Kafr el Hag Sherbini village Dakahilya Governorate.
Cross-sectional study was carried out during the period of June 2010 to September 2010.
The calculated sample size of children was estimated to be 340 children of both sexes aged 5 to 15 years old attending family health unit of Kafr El Hag Sherbini village in Dakahilya Governorate.
The result of this study showed that more than half of the children (59.12%) were infected with intestinal parasitic infections. The most important type of parasites were Protozoa infection (75.62%), followed by nematodes (41.29%), Trematodes (2.49 %), then Cestodes (1.99%) and mixed infection (more than one parasite) represented by (22.39 %) of infected children.
from this study, it was found that, the mean age of infected children and non infected children was 10.04±2.7 and 10.2±2.5 respectively, and more than half of infected children (54.73%) were males, with males to females ratio was 1.2:1. On the other hand, most of both infected &non infected children (69.15%) and (72.66%) respectively were of preparatory educational level. Regarding to the occupation and educational level of parents, it was found that, most of parents are with middle educational level and more than half of fathers (69.65%) of infected children were farmers and about (87.1%) of infected children were with house wives mothers. Also, it was found that children with larger family size (67.1%) were significantly developed intestinal parasitic infections more than those who were with smaller family size (23.84%).
As regard the environmental sanitation, it was found that, traditional latrines users are at a high risk to develop intestinal parasites infections three times more than those who don’t use. And pump water users were more infected with intestinal parasites more than those who don’t use.
On the other hand, it was found that washing hands before meals is practiced by (63.18%) of infected children compared to (98.56%) of non infected children. And it was found that, most of infected children (68.66%) had developed anaemia compared to (25.2 %) of those who without infection.
By multiple regression analysis it was found that, the most significant risk factors predisposing for the development of intestinal parasitic infection among children were hand washing before eating, traditional latrines use, educational levels of mothers and large family size. On the other hand, BMI of children, occupations and educational level of fathers and washing vegetables affect no much on the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections among children.
Finally the result of this study reflected that, there was a high frequency of parasitic infection among children with improper sanitary measures, poor hygienic habits and low educational level of parents. Therefore increased efforts should be made by the government and health authorities to provide the public with safe water supplies, and sanitary disposal of sewage, and waste products. And increasing the awareness of population about intestinal parasitic infection through health education, sanitary personal hygiene and periodic examination and follow up and improving the standard of living of population.