Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infestation Among Expatriate Workers

Background

Parasitic infestations of the gastrointestinal tract remain a common problem in third-world countries. Poverty, illiteracy, poor hygiene, scarcity of potable water, as well as the hot and humid tropical climate, are all contributing factors associated with intestinal parasitic infestation.

Objective

This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation amongst expatriate workers in Benghazi City, Libya.

Patients and methods

A total of 250 stool samples (200 male and 50 female) were randomly collected between October 2017 to April 2018 from expatriate workers in Benghazi City, Libya. The samples examined were used to detect the presence of intestinal parasitic infestation while the study utilized a pre-tested structure. Cases were matched based on demographic parameters, such as age, gender, and nationality, while the history of diarrhea was recorded using direct smear microscopy for the detection of intestinal parasitic infestation.

Results

Of the 250 immigrants looking for work, 95 (38%) were found to be infested with two or more intestinal parasites. The protozoa included: Blastocystis hominis, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, and Cryptosporidium parvum (47.4%, 38.9%, 17.9%, 17.9%, and 4.2%, respectively); the non-pathogenic protozoa included the prevalence of Entamoeba coli (E. coli), which is 12.6%, and the helminth Ascaris lumbricoidesis 1.1%.

Conclusion

The prevalence of parasitic infection was relatively high (38%) and was affected by individual hygiene. Therefore, comprehensive healthcare education aimed at reducing parasitic infestation is needed.

Expatriates' Multiple Fears, from Terrorism to Working Conditions: Development of a Model

Companies’ internationalization appears to be fundamental in the current globalized and competitive environment and seems important not only for organizational success, but also for societal development and sustainability. On one hand, global business increases the demand for managers for international assignment. On the other hand, emergent fears, such as terrorism, seem to be developing around the world, enhancing the risk of expatriates’ potential health problems. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between the emergent concept of fear of expatriation with further workplace fears (economic crisis and dangerous working conditions) and with mental health problems. The study uses a quantitative design. Self-reported data were collected from 265 Italian expatriate workers assigned to both Italian and worldwide projects. Structural equation model analyses showed that fear of expatriation mediates the relationship of mental health with fear of economic crisis and with perceived dangerous working conditions. As expected, in addition to fear, worries of expatriation are also related to further fears. Although, the study is based on self-reports and the cross-sectional study design limits the possibility of making causal inferences, the new constructs introduced add to previous research.