Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Cryptosporidium Infections in Elementary School Children in Southwestern China: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Dongjian Yang, Ya Yang, Yingjian Wang, Yu Yang, Shurong Dong, Yue Chen, Qingwu Jiang and Yibiao Zhou
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Dongjian Yang: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Ya Yang: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Yingjian Wang: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Yu Yang: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Shurong Dong: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Yue Chen: School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
Qingwu Jiang: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Yibiao Zhou: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Background : Intestinal parasitic infections pose great public health challenges in school children in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of A. lumbricoides , T. trichiura and Cryptosporidium among elementary school children in rural southwestern China. Methods : A school-based cross-sectional study involving 321 elementary school children was conducted in 2014 in the southwest of China. They were invited to provide a stool sample and interviewed about the sanitary situation and hygiene behavior. Stool specimens were examined for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura using the Kato-Katz fecal thick-smear technique. The presence of Cryptosporidium was determined using a modified acid-fast staining method. Results : The prevalence of infection was 10.0% (95% CI: 6.9–13.8%) for A. lumbricoides , 25.2% (95% CI: 20.6–30.4%) for T. trichiura and 2.4% for (95% CI: 1.1–4.9%) Cryptosporidium . The prevalence of co-infection was 3.7% (95% CI: 1.9–6.4%) for A. lumbricoides / T. trichiura , 0.3% (95% CI: 0–1.7%) for A. lumbricoides / Cryptosporidium and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.2–2.7%) for T. trichiura / Cryptosporidium . Children from households using well or river water were associated with a greater odds of A. lumbricoides infection (aOR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.12–6.05). Having a household lavatory was associated with a lower odds of T. trichiura infection (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30–0.84). Children who had three meals at the school canteen on week days were at a lower risk of Cryptosporidium infection. The use of spring water as a water source was associated with lower odds of any intestinal infection (aOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35–0.91). Conclusions : Our study calls for an intervention program of school-based deworming combined with health education, hygiene promotion and provision of safe water and improved sanitation.

Keywords: A. lumbricoides; T. trichiura; Cryptosporidium; school children; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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