The prevalence, intensities and risk factors associated with geohelminth infection in tea-growing communities of Assam, India.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors for infection with Ascaris, hookworms and Trichuris in three tea-growing communities in Assam, India.


METHODS
Single faecal samples were collected from 328 individuals and subjected to centrifugal flotation and the Kato Katz quantitation technique and prevalence and intensities of infection with each parasite calculated. Associations between parasite prevalence, intensity and host and environmental factors were then made using both univariate and multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of Ascaris was 38% [95% confidence interval (CI): 33, 43], and the individual prevalence of hookworm and Trichuris was 43% (95% CI: 38, 49). The strongest predictors for the intensity of one or more geohelminths using multiple regression (P < or = 0.10) were socioeconomic status, age, household crowding, level of education, religion, use of footwear when outdoors, defecation practices, pig ownership and water source.


CONCLUSIONS
A universal blanket treatment with broad-spectrum anthelmintics together with promotion of scholastic and health education and improvements in sanitation is recommended for helminth control in the communities under study.
Traub
Rebecca J
RJ
Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Robertson
Ian D
ID
Irwin
Peter
P
Mencke
Norbert
N
Andrew Thompson
R C
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013662:Tea; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014881:Water Supply
D000871:Anthelmintics; D013662:Tea