title: Sentinel surveillance of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in preschool-aged and school-aged children in selected local government units in the Philippines: follow-up assessment.
abstract: This study was a follow-up to the baseline nationwide survey of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in preschool-aged children in the Philippines and in school-aged children in selected sentinel sites to assess the Integrated Helminth Control Program of the Department of Health. The objective of the study was to describe the current prevalence and intensity of STH infections in preschool-aged and school-aged children in 6 sentinel provinces and to compare these data with baseline findings. A cross-sectional study design was used to determine the prevalence and intensity of STH infections. Parasitological assessment involved the examination of stool samples by the Kato-Katz method. Although parasitological parameters in the 2 age groups at follow-up showed significant reductions from the baseline, these parameters remained high despite 3 years of mass drug administration (MDA). Efforts toward achieving high MDA coverage rates, provision of clean water, environmental sanitation, and promotion of hygiene practices must be prioritized.
authors.affiliation: University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines vbelizar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vicente Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Belizario
authors.affiliation: University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Francis Isidore G
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Totañes
authors.affiliation: University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Winifreda U
authors.initials: WU
authors.lastname: de Leon
authors.affiliation: University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Raezelle Nadine T
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Ciro
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Philippines.
authors.forename: Yvonne F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lumampao
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; D009111:Local Government; D008297:Male; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Philippines; integrated helminth control; mass drug administration; neglected tropical diseases; preventive chemotherapy; soil-transmitted helminths