Lim, Amy Ping Ping (2018) Prevalence and associated risk factors of worm infections among children in rural communities of Nortern Sabah. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
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Abstract
The lack of access and level of knowledge, attitude, practices and understanding of associated environmental and social risk factors have led to increased human infection with parasitic worms. Infection of parasitic worms such as Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Fasciolopsis and Taenia among the rural communities have been reported in Sabah, Malaysia but the prevalence and study on the risk factors of these worm infestation in Sabah are scarce and may not be available. Hence, further in-depth study was carried out to estimate with certainty the overall incidence of infection with parasitic worms as well as to determine and understand how infections with such worms are closely related with environmental and social factors. This cross-sectional study was carried out from April 2015 until January 2018 in 13 villages involving children aged between six months until 17 years old in the District of Kota Marudu, Sabah. This study involved assessment of surrounding environment, collection of stool as well as soil and water samples, interviewing villagers using questionnaires to collect baseline data, microscopy, statistical analysis and genetic characterization. The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in these children was 14.3% with A. Lumbricoides at 63.9%, hookworm 18.0% and T. trichiura 18.0%. The risk factors found to be associated with these infections were mothers with low or no formal education; household income of less than RM500; use of untreated water as drinking water; unavailibility of toilets; children who usually walk barefooted and not washing feet before entering the house; and the presence of domestic animals at the house. About 35% of the soil samples were found to contain eggs of one or two soil-transmitted helminth (STH) species. Through genetic characterization via Polymerase Chain Reaction, A. Lumbricoides, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma species were recorded.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Keyword: | Parasitic worm infection, Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Fasciolopsis, Taenia, Sabah, Malaysia |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ1-570 Pediatrics > RJ370-550 Diseases of children and adolescents |
| Department: | FACULTY > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences |
| Depositing User: | DG MASNIAH AHMAD - |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Feb 2025 11:27 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Feb 2025 11:27 |
| URI: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/42699 |
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