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[Relationship between the rate of parasitic infection and the knowledge of prevention]
Abstract:
The relationship between the rate of parasitic infection and the level of knowledge of prevention was studied among 5479 persons allocated to 12 randomly selected groups. Stools were examined for parasitic infection by using Kato-Katz, iodine direct smear amd tube culturing methods. Children under 15 were examined for Enterobius infection by cellophane tape method. Individuals were considered infected when any parasite species was found in the stool and the infection rate was computed. The score on knowledge of prevention was measured by devising a questionnaire comprising 11 questions on parasitic disease transmission, clinical signs and prevention methods. Ten marks were given for each question correctly answered. The result of the investigation showed that the total infection rate was 52.2% and there was no significant difference between males and females (X2 = 1.94, P > 0.05). The infection rate increased with a decrease in the level of education and the highest was found in 5-year-old age group. There were altogether 7 species of parasites detected in all age groups. The infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was 31.3%; Trichuris trichiura, 34.1%; hookworm, 5.3%; Enterobius vermicularis, 20.3%(227+1 117); Fasciolopsis buski, 0.8%; Entamoeba coli, 0.8%; Giardia lamblia, 0.2%. The average score on knowledge was 41.9, being significantly higher in males than in females. Analysis for the age distribution showed that the highest score was found in 15-year-old age group. The data of infection rate of different parasites were converted by arcsine transformation and compared with the average score, showing that there were negative relations between the average score and the infection rate of Trichuris, hookwork, Entamoeba and the total incidence. The value of r was --0. 5534, --9.5557, --0.6091 and --0.604. respectively. The number of parasite species infecting individuals was also found to have negative relation to the score on knowledge of prevention.