Table 2 Univariate analysis of potential predictors for Blastocystis infection among the participants (n = 380)

Age

≥18 years

238

29.4

3.8 (2.05, 7.06)

<0.001*

<18 years

142

9.9

1

Gender

Male

197

26.4

1.7 (1.03, 2.77)

0.036 *

Female

183

17.5

1

Education level

≤ Primary school

193

26.4

1.7 (1.02, 2.75)

0.042*

≥ Secondary school

187

17.6

1

Occupational status

Working

132

31.8

2.0 (1.13, 3.24)

0.017*

Not working

168

19.6

1

Family size

≥ 7 members (large)

222

18.0

0.6 (0.35, 0.93)

0.023*

< 7 members

158

27.8

1

Drinking water

Untreated water

242

23.1

1.2 (0.70, 1.97)

0.520

Treated water (chemical, filtered or boiled)

138

20.3

1

Presence of animals

in the house

Yes

44

13.6

0.5 (0.21, 1.28)

0.150

No

336

23.3

1

History of recent overseas travel

Yes

16

31.3

1.6 (0.55, 4.85)

0.360

No

364

21.7

1

Presence of GI symptoms

Yes

153

35.3

3.6 (2.14, 5.94)

<0.001*

No

227

13.2

1

Abdominal pain

Yes

131

35.9

3.2 (1.94, 5.28)

<0.001*

No

249

14.9

1

Diarrhoea

Yes

41

31.7

1.8 (0.86, 3.56)

0.117

No

339

20.9

1

Flatulence

Yes

55

49.1

4.5 (2.48, 8.26)

<0.001*

No

325

17.5

1