Incidence of Helminthic Infections and the Associated Risk Factors Among Children

The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of intestinal parasitic worm infection and its associated risk factors among the children of Zone 7, Acashia Extension, Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. Specifically, the study focused on the risk factors of helminthic infections such as parents’ educational achievement,  presence of washing facility, and the type of latrine used; the incidence of helminthic infections; comparison of the types of  helminthic infections among the subjects; and determination of the significant difference between the number of infected and non-infected subjects.  The study used  descriptive design. A survey questionnaire was used for the gathering of the subjects’ profiles and risk factors, and Formalin-Ether Concentration Technique (FECT) was employed for the detection of the helminthic ova in the stool samples. The results showed that three (6.82%) of the forty-four respondents tested positive for helminthic infection. This result simply indicated very low incidence of helminthic infection. The very low incidence could be attributed to the fact that most of the subjects (70.45%) had washing facilities and utilized better latrines (toilets) equipped with bowl or with both bowl and sink. Moreover, two stool samples tested positive for round worm (Ascaris lumbricoides) while one stool sample tested positive for Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale). It was also found out that there was a significant difference between the number of infected children subjects (6.82%) and the number of non-infected children subjects (93.18%). Thus, it could be said that the helminthic infection of the study area was not alarming because of the very low incidence of infection.

Keywords: Parasitic infection,risk factors, incidence