Analysis of factors related to human soil-transmitted nematode infections in Chongqing City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the related factors of soil-transmitted nematode infections in Chongqing City, so as to provide the basis for scientific prevention and treatment of the infections. Methods From 2011 to 2015, the stool samples of residents of the surveillance sites in Chongqing City were collected every year, and the soil-transmitted nematode eggs were examined by the modified Kato-Katz thick smear method (three smears for a single stool sample). The respondents were surveyed by questionnaires, and the factors affecting soil-transmitted nematode infections were identified. Results The prevalence of human soil-transmitted nematode infections were 6.44%, 7.30%, 6.85%, 6.93% and 5.56% in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015, respectively. The more unclean drinking water and the lower frequency of washing hands after using the toilet were the risk factors for Ascaris lumbricoides infection. The more harmless toilets, the higher level of fertilizer application, the lower frequency of drinking raw water, and the lower frequency of food without washing were the protective factors for A. lumbricoides infection. Conclusions The local soil-transmitted nematode infections are at a low epidemic level in Chongqing City, and it is necessary to ad-here to the classified guidance, comprehensive prevention and further monitoring on the basis of health education, water and toilet improvement, and environmental sanitation improvement in order to consolidate the prevention and control achievements.