title: Risk factors for human helminthiases in rural Philippines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A cross-sectional survey was performed in 2012 among 18 rural barangays in Northern Samar, the Philippines in order to determine the prevalence of single and multiple species helminth infections and the underlying risk factors of acquiring one or more parasites.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 6976 participants who completed a medical questionnaire and provided a stool sample for examination were included in the final analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence rates of Schistosoma japonicum, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm were found to be moderate to high at 28.9%, 36.5%, 61.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. However, the prevalence of harbouring any of the helminths was found to be higher at 75.6%. Significant variation was evident among the predicted barangay-specific random effects for infection with S. japonicum (barangay variance of 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.31-1.40) and for any helminth infection (barangay variance of 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.30-1.29). The predictive models showed, with greater than 80% sensitivity and specificity, that low socio-economic status, low levels of education, poor sanitation, proximity to water sources, occupation (i.e., farming and fishing), and male sex were all reliable indicators of infection status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will aid in the targeting of limited resources for national treatment and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) efforts in low- and middle-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: a.ross@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Allen G P
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Health, Muntinlupa, Philippines.
authors.forename: Remigio M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Olveda
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: The Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Health Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Harn
authors.affiliation: Municipal Medical Officer of Health, Palapag, Northern Samar, Philippines.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chy
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Yuesheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Health, Muntinlupa, Philippines.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tallo
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Shu-Kay
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Control; Intestinal helminths; Mass drug administration (MDA); Risk factors; Social determinants