title: School-based control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in western Visayas, Philippines.
abstract: We evaluated the effect of a local government unit-led, school-based, teacher-assisted mass drug administration (MDA) treatment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) on the morbidity of school children in selected provinces of western Visayas, the Philippines. Parasitological assessment was done on stool samples using the Kato-Katz technique. Nutritional status and school performance were also evaluated using secondary data from the Department of Education. The overall prevalence of STH decreased from 71.1% to 44.3% (p < 0.0001) and the prevalence of heavy infection with STH decreased from 40.5% to 14.5% (p < 0.0001), after two years of biannual MDA. The prevalence of underweight children decreased from 26.2% to 17.8% (p < 0.0001) and the prevalence of stunted children decreased from 20.9% to 16.6% (p < 0.0001) after two years of biannual MDA. School performance improved on standardized testing from a mean percentage of 53.8% to 64.6%. Advocacy, social mobilization, strong local government support and intersectoral collaboration with other agencies probably contributed to the success of the program.
authors: V Y
authors: VY
authors: Belizario
authors: F I G
authors: FI
authors: Totañes
authors: W U
authors: WU
authors: de Leon
authors: K M H
authors: KM
authors: Matias
mesh_terms: D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D012987:Soil