Hygiene, sanitation and the soil transmitted helminths (STH) infection among elementary school students in West Lombok

Abstract

The prevalenses of soil transmitted helminths (STH) infection in Lombok are relatively high. It is closley associated with poor environmetal hygiene, non healthy sanitation status, poverty and improper health services. The highest prevalences is normally observed in elementary school children. The aim of this study was to evalaute the relationship between hygiene, sanitation and STH infection among elementary school children in West Lombok. An observational study with cross-sectional design was performed involving 197 elementary school children in Terong Tawah Village, Labuapi Sub District, West Lombok District and 197 children in Ampenan, Mataram City as control. The stool specimen of the children were collected and processed using Kato-Katz technique. Hygiene and sanitation of each subject that consisted nail hygiene, hand washing, using footwear, latrine, clean water availability, house floor, soil around the house were taken by questionnaire and direct observation. The result showed that the prevalences of STH among elementary school children in Terong Tawah (81.7%) was higher than that in Ampenan (12.7%).Trichuris trichiura was the predominant helminth both in Terong Tawah (36.0%) and Ampenan (7.0%) followed by A. lumbricoides (20.4% in Terong Tawah and 4.5% in Ampenan). The mix infections between T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides among the children in Terong Tawah (24.4%) and Ampenan (1.0%) were also found. A significant relationship between hygiene and sanitaion i.e. nail cleaniness, washing hands, contaminated soil around the house and STH infection among elementary school children in Terong Tawah and Ampenan (p<0.05). In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and STH infections among elementary school children.