Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Primary Schoolchildren in the Koh Yao Islands
Nonthapan Phasuk1,2, Prasit Na-Ek1,2, Udomsak Narkkul1,2
1School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
Abstract:
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are the most common parasitic infections worldwide, particularly in tropical regions. There are currently no reports on the prevalence of STH infections among children in Koh Yao District of Phang Nga Province, Thailand. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of STH infections and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 243 schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years from 12 rural primary schools across three subdistricts. Demographic data and associated risk factors were collected and analyzed. Stool samples were collected and examined for parasites using the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation concentration and the modified Kato-Katz methods. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the strength of the relationship between risk variables and STH infections. Of the 243 participants (mean age: 8.99 ± 1.57 years), 12 (4.94%, 95% CI: 2.60%-8.50%) were infected with STH. The most common STH infection was hookworm (4.11%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (1.65%). More than 80% (n = 10, 83.33%) had a single intestinal parasite, while two (16.67%) were coinfected with two parasitic species. Infections were more prevalent among males (66.67%) compared to females (33.33%). Multiple regression analyses revealed that children above Grade 3 had a significantly higher prevalence of STH infections compared to those below Grade 3 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 10.54; 95% CI: 1.24-89.14, p = 0.031). Open defecation was also statistically associated with STH infections (AOR = 22.66; 95% CI: 1.18-433.58, p = 0.038). This study highlights a low prevalence of STH infections in the study area, with hookworm being the most common. The potential risk factors identified were linked to educational level and open defecation practices. Improving sanitation and enhancing health education to raise public awareness about hygiene are essential strategies for controlling STH infections among primary schoolchildren in remote areas.
More Related Videos
04:57Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples
Published on: April 25, 2025
08:38A Strategy for the Study of IL-9-Producing Lymphoid Cells in the Nippostrongylus brasiliensis Infection Model
Published on: March 3, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections