Soil transmitted helminth infection in Son La province

ABSTRACT

Background: Helminth infection cause bad impacts on human health, especially for children.Helminth infection directly related to poverty, bad hygiene, low quality water supply, people awareness... Objective: To investigate the current situation of soil transmitted helminth infection in Son La province. Subject and Method: A total sample of 7,150 fecal specimen collected from72 hamlets, 18 communes in 6 districts of Mai Son, Muong la, Thuan Chau, Song Ma, Quynh Nhai and Yen Chau were examined for soil-transmitted helminths. Result: A cumulative infection rate of 93.45% was found, of which Ascaris 85.85%, Trichuris 24.52%, and hookworm 18.92%. No different' infection rate was found between males and females but it was higher with ages. The prevalence of Trichuris and hookworm was higher in adults against children and higher with the older ages. The infection of Trichuris and hookworm in adults was higher than that in children. The single helminth infection rate was 82.17%, and mixed infection of two species was 15.9% and three species 0.43%. The helminth infection among Sinh MUD ethnic group 97.2%, Thai ethnic group 96.6%, La Ha ethnic group 85%, Kinh ethnic group 80.62%, and H'mong ethnic group 45.96%. The hookworm infection rate of Kinh and H'mong groups was found higher that of the others ethnic groups. KAP surveys were conducted with 2,188 households showing a high latrine coverage of 90.6%, of which 92.9% of latrines were self-made. The more was the rate of self-made latrine, the higher was the helminth infection. Conclusion: Low awareness and knowledge of the local people on helminth infection was found so as they do not know how to prevent from helminth.