Study of factors influencing intestinal parasitic infections in a rural community in northeastern Thailand.

ABSTRACT

We performed a survey in a rural village, in Nam Som District, Udon Thani Province, northeastern Thailand, focusing on intestinal parasitic infections and possible related personal factors. From a survey of the 178 villagers, we found the intestinal parasitic infection rate equal to 26.4% (47 cases). Further factor analysis was performed to find whether factors were related to the intestinal parasitic infections among the subjects. Of the total 20 factors analyzed, only three factors showed significant correlations with intestinal parasitic infections. The three factors were average annual income (p = 0.007), having a toilet (p = 0.040) and eating undercooked food (p = 0.010). The factors identified are the common problem described in many studies, the poor sanitation of the villagers. The economic status of the subjects is still an important factor influencing intestinal parasites among this sample of the Thai rural population.