Patterns and Risk Factors of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Among Orang Asli Subgroups in Peninsular Malaysia

Ngui R 1 , Aziz S 2 , Chua KH 2 , Aidil RM 2 , Lee SC 2 , Tan TK 2 Show all authors , Sani MM 2 , Arine AF 2 , Rohela M 2 , Lim YA 2

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Orang Asli Development, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, West Block, Wisma Selangor Dredging, 142-C, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia romano@um.edu.my
  • 2 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Orang Asli Development, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, West Block, Wisma Selangor Dredging, 142-C, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2015 Aug;93(2):361-70.
PMID: 26055746 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0677

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to provide comprehensive data on the patterns and associated risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections among five Orang Asli subgroups in Peninsular Malaysia. The overall prevalence of STH infections was 59.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 56.1-63.7%). Trichuris trichiura (54.3%; 95% CI = 50.4-58.2%) was the predominant species followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (26.7%; 95% CI = 23.3-30.1%) and hookworm (9.1%; 95% CI = 6.9-11.3%). This study showed diversity for STH infections by subgroup with poverty and personal sanitary behavior as important risk factors for infection. Risk profile analyses indicating that Orang Kuala subgroup who has a generally well-developed infrastructure and better quality of life had a low rate of infection. There is a need for poverty reduction and promotion of deworming programs along with mass scale campaigns to create awareness about health and hygiene to reduce STH infections.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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