Table 3. Association between Blastocystis subtypes and related potential factors.

Variable	ST1		ST2		ST3
	Frequency (%)	P a	Frequency (%)	P b	Frequency (%)	P b
Gender		0.009 *		0.080		0.431
Female	14 (60.9)		3 (27.3)		2 (25.0)
Male	9 (39.1)		8 (72.7)		6 (75.0)
Age		0.056		0.123		NA
≥18 years	18 (78.3)		9 (81.8)		8 (100.0)
<18 years	5 (21.7)		2 (18.2)		0 (0.00)
Education level		0.034*		0.008*		0.932
Low (≤ Primary school)	18 (78.3)		9 (81.8)		5 (62.5)
High (≥Secondary school)	5 (21.7)		2 (18.2)		3 (37.5)
Occupational status		0.801		0.987		0.764
Not working	13 (56.5)		6 (54.5)		4 (50.0)
Working	10 (43.5)		5 (45.5)		4 (50.0)
Family size		0.711		0.974		0.709
≥ 7 members (large)	12 (52.2)		6 (54.5)		5 (62.5)
< 7 members (small)	11 (47.8)		5 (45.5)		3 (37.5)
Presence of animals in the house		0.488		0.353		0.725
Yes	10 (43.5)		7 (63.6)		3 (37.5)
No	13 (56.5)		4 (36.4)		5 (62.5)
Drinking water		0.204		0.867		0.243
Untreated	13 (56.5)		5 (45.5)		4 (50.0)
Treated (chlorinated, filtered or boiled)	10 (43.5)		6 (54.5)		4 (50.0)
Diarrhoea		0.480		0.303		0.008*
Yes	8 (34.8)		4 (36.4)		7 (87.5)
No	15 (65.2)		7 (63.6)		1 (12.5)
Abdominal pain		0.384		0.384		0.700
Yes	10 (43.5)		6 (54.5)		4 (50.0)
No	13 (56.5)		5 (45.5)		4 (50.0)
Flatulence		0.270		0.270		0.686
Yes	7 (30.4)		5 (45.5)		3 (37.5)
No	16 (69.6)		6 (54.5)		5 (62.5)

^a Chi square test, ^bFisher’s Exact test, ^*Significant association (P<0.05), not applicable (NA).