Home Healthcare Program for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in Schoolchildren along the Mekong River Basin
Soraya J. Kaewpitoon MD*,**,***, Ryan A. Loyd MD*,****, Natthawut Kaewpitoon PhD**,***,*****
Affiliation : * School of Family and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand ** Parasitic Disease Research Unit, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand *** Research and Diagnostic Center for Parasitic Disease, College of Medicine and public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand **** Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas, USA ***** Faculty of Public Health, Vongchawalitkul University, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Background : Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are among the most important groups of infectious agents responsible for
physical and intellectual growth retardation in children worldwide. Current status is need required for the development of
control programs.
Objective : To determine the STH infections among the schoolchildren in the Mekong River basin near rural Ubon Ratchathani,
Thailand and Champassak, Laos PDR, including their caregiver’s knowledge and attitude concerning prevention of STH
infections.
Material and Method: A cross sectional survey was designed as a home healthcare program from October 2009 to April
2012. 1,957 fecal samples were collected from children aged 5-12 years in five districts of Ubon Ratchathani province (1,012
fecal samples; Khong Chiam, Si Mueang Mai, Phibun Mangsahan, Sirindhorn, and Pho Sai), Thailand, and one district of
Champassak Province (945 fecal samples; Pakse), Lao PDR. Fecal samples were prepared by the modified formalin ethyl-
acetate concentration technique, and determined by light microscope. The knowledge and attitude of children’s caregivers
concerning prevention of soil-transmitted helminth infections were completed interviewed by semi-structured questionnaires.
Results : The overall intestinal helminth prevalence rate was 11.88%. Classified by species the STHs were as follows: Ascaris
lumbricoides (30.9%), Trichuris trichiura (21.7%), and hookworm (20.5%). The highest prevalence was recorded in
children aged 9 years and above. The highest prevalence of STH infection was found in the Pakse district of Laos PDR
(16.08%). The intensities of infection with A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and Hookworm were 1.82+0.36, 1.32+0.30, and
1.29+0.32, respectively. 1,077 of caregivers were completed interviewed and found that the caregivers had fair levels of
knowledge and attitude regarding soil-transmitted helminthiasis.
Conclusions: These results suggest that priority should be given to STH eradication, the development of control programs
in the Mekong River Basin, and the provision of education about STH to caregivers to reduce the risk of STH infection in their
schoolchildren.
Keywords : Soil-transmitted helminthiases, Schoolchildren, Mekong River basin
