Community and School-Based Surveys of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections on Samosir Island, Indonesia

Soil-transmitted helminth infection community school-age children Samosir Indonesia

Authors

  • Ivan Elisabeth Purba
    poerba.ivanelis@gmail.com
    Directorate of Postgraduate, Sari Mutiara Indonesia University, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Vierto Irennius Girsang Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Science, Sari Mutiara Indonesia University, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Amila Amila Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Science, Sari Mutiara Indonesia University, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Ester Saripati Harianja Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Science, Sari Mutiara Indonesia University, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Yunita Purba Faculty of Vocational Education, Sari Mutiara Indonesia University, Medan, North Sumatra. Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Toni Wandra Directorate of Postgraduate, Sari Mutiara Indonesia University, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Christine M. Budke Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, USA, United States
September 30, 2023
September 30, 2023

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Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are common in tropical and sub-tropical regions where they can have substantial local public health impacts. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of STH infection in the community and children aged 6 to 11 years attending government-run schools in the Simanindo sub-district of Samosir Island. In total, 314 individuals in the community and 187 children aged 6 to 11 years attending government schools were invited to provide a fecal sample. All fecal samples were examined microscopically using the Kato-Katz technique. The prevalence of STH infection in the community was 46.8% (147/314). Infections were caused by Ascaris lumbricoides (n=52), followed by Trichuris trichiura (n=48), and hookworms (n=26). The prevalence of STH infection in school-age children was 4.8% in 2023. All infections in this cohort were due to T. trichiura. Even though the MDA program effectively controls A. lumbricoides and hookworm infections in school children, the problem of controlling T. trichiura infection remains. Therefore, selective treatment after fecal sample examination is needed to prevent T. trichiura infection and the potential for infection-associated anemia. Health education focusing on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation is still important for preventing STH infections. The suggestion is a new community-based survey with random sampling is necessary to ensure the present prevalence of STH in the community.

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