Factors associated with intestinal parasitic infection among school children in a rural area of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

ABSTRACT

We studied predisposing factors of enteric parasitic infections in school children [n=340 (Boys 177 and Girls 163)] in a rural area in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Fecal samples were examined by formal-ether concentration technique. A total of 71.2% children had parasite. Altogether nine types of parasites were recovered; Trichuris trichiura was the commonest one followed by hookworm and others. A structured questionnaire regarding various predisposing factors was used. No significant differences in the infection rate between the sexes, age groups (< or = 10 years, 11-14 years and > or = 15 years) and family sizes (< or = 5 and > or = 6) were observed (P>0.05). The positive rates were significantly low in children with the history of taking antihelminthic drugs in the past six months (P<0.05). A marginally higher positive rate was found among Dalits children compared to Tibeto-Burmans and Indo-Aryans (P>0.05) and children from farming family (P>0.05). No difference in the infection rate was found in children having different types of toilet facility open-field defecation, pit latrine and modern toilet at their houses (P>0.05). Slightly higher positive rate was associated with drinking water from Kuwa (shallow well) compared to natural spout, piped water and Khola (river) (P>0.05). Children were infected despite of their awareness regarding the safe water and geophagy.