Related Experiment Videos
[Intestinal helminthiasis in school children in Haiti in 2002]
G Champetier de Ribes1, M Fline, A M Désormeaux
1Service de Coopération et d'action culturelle, Ambassade de France en Haïti, Port-au-Prince, Haïti.
Bulletin De La Societe De Pathologie Exotique (1990)
|July 30, 2005
Summary
A nationwide survey in Haiti found 34% of school children infected with intestinal helminths, with higher rates in rural areas. Public health programs and Albendazole treatment are recommended.
Area of Science:
- * Infectious Diseases
- * Public Health
- * Parasitology
Context:
- * A 2002 nationwide survey in Haiti investigated intestinal helminth infections among elementary school children.
- * The study employed a cluster sampling method, stratifying by urban and rural zones across all nine departments.
- * This was the first comprehensive national study on the prevalence of geohelminths in this demographic.
Purpose:
- * To determine the prevalence and distribution of intestinal helminths in Haitian school children.
- * To identify specific helminth species and analyze variations in prevalence based on geographical location (urban vs. rural) and departments.
- * To provide data for the development of a national public health strategy for helminth control.
Summary:
- * A total of 5792 school children (ages 3-20) were surveyed, with 34% testing positive for intestinal helminths.
- * The most prevalent parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (27.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (7.3%).
- * Prevalence was higher in rural (38.4%) than urban areas (30%), with significant departmental variations, notably in Grande Anse (73.7%). Polyparasitism ranged from 3.4% to 28.6%.
Impact:
- * Highlights the significant public health burden of intestinal helminths among Haitian school children.
- * Recommends initiating a national program to combat geohelminths as a public health priority.
- * Suggests Albendazole as the drug of choice, with distribution frequency tailored to departmental prevalence rates.