Risk factors for human helminthiases in rural Philippines

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version

Version of Record (VoR)

Author(s)
Ross, Allen GP
Olveda, Remigio M
McManus, Donald P
Harn, Donald A
Chy, Delia
Li, Yuesheng
Tallo, Veronica
Ng, Shu-Kay
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2017
Size
File type(s)
Location
Abstract

Background A cross-sectional survey was performed in 2012 among 18 rural barangays in Northern Samar, the Philippines in order to determine the prevalence of single and multiple species helminth infections and the underlying risk factors of acquiring one or more parasites. Methods A total of 6976 participants who completed a medical questionnaire and provided a stool sample for examination were included in the final analysis. Results The overall prevalence rates of Schistosoma japonicum, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm were found to be moderate to high at 28.9%, 36.5%, 61.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. However, the prevalence of harbouring any of the helminths was found to be higher at 75.6%. Significant variation was evident among the predicted barangay-specific random effects for infection with S. japonicum (barangay variance of 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.31–1.40) and for any helminth infection (barangay variance of 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.30–1.29). The predictive models showed, with greater than 80% sensitivity and specificity, that low socio-economic status, low levels of education, poor sanitation, proximity to water sources, occupation (i.e., farming and fishing), and male sex were all reliable indicators of infection status. Conclusions This study will aid in the targeting of limited resources for national treatment and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) efforts in low- and middle-income countries.

Journal Title

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

© 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Item Access Status
Note

This publication has been entered into Griffith Research Online as an Advanced Online Version.

Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Microbiology

Medical microbiology

Medical microbiology not elsewhere classified

Health services and systems

Public health

Clinical sciences

Epidemiology

Persistent link to this record
Citation
Collections