Prevalence Survey of Helminthiasis among Migrants in Trat Province, 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59096/wesr.v55i8.2363Keywords:
prevalence, survey, helminthiasis, migrant worker, Trat ProvinceAbstract
Background: A high prevalence of helminthiasis was detected among migrant workers in Thailand. Such as the Myanmar border area, economic province, and industrial areas. This aims to establish specific measures for the problem of helminthiasis among migrants. However, there was no survey on the prevalence of helminthiasis among migrant workers in the Cambodian border area. Therefore, in 2021, a survey was conducted in Trat Province. This paper reports the prevalence survey of helminthiasis among migrant workers in the border areas with Cambodia. The purpose of this study was to assess the situation of helminthiasis to inform policies and health care strategies for migrant workers, as well as to develop a surveillance and control system for helminthiasis in Thailand.
Methods: The study is a cross–sectional study. The selection of districts using simple random sampling and selecting of target group using convenience sampling. Stool samples were examined for helminth eggs using the Formalin ether concentration technique (FECT). The data is analyzed and presented as frequencies and percentages. The chi–square test and Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison between factors associated with helminthiasis infection.
Results: Stool samples from 644 Cambodian migrant workers were detected in 14 samples (2.17%). The most common helminth identified was Nicator americanus (1.24%), Opisthorchis viverrine (0.47%), Small Intestinal fluke (0.31%), and Taenia spp. (0.16%). The samples collected didn't have co-infections. The prevalence of helminthiasis was higher in females (2.78%) compared to males (1.21%), with a female-to-male ratio of 2 : 1. Helminthiasis were found in people between the ages of 20 and 39 (2.61%) and under 20 (2.43%). However, there was not a statistically significant correlation between gender, age, and helminthiasis. The infection rates among migrant workers varied across different occupations. General laborers had the highest prevalence at 4.48%, stone mill workers at 2.78% and fishermen at 1.96%. There is no statistically significant correlation between occupation and Helminthiasis. In terms of geographic distribution, the prevalence of helminthiasis was higher in Bo Rai District (3.95%) and Mueang Trat District (3.15%) is as high as in the Khao Saming and Khlong Yai Districts.
Conclusion: In this study, migrant workers in Trat Province have a low prevalence of helminthiasis. However, there was a high–prevalence of helminthiasis group, such as female workers and the ages under 40. Should study specific risk factors in high-prevalence helminthiasis groups. There should be a prevalence survey in another district. Find a helminthiasis patient and give medicine. Along with devising specific measures tailored to districts with a high prevalence helminthiasis.
References
Department of Disease Control (TH), Division of General Communicable Diseases. Report on the study of the situation of worm and intestinal protozoan diseases in Thailand 2019. Nonthaburi: Division of General Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Control; 2019. (in Thai)
Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Strych U, Chang LY, Lim YA, Goodenow MM, et al. Neglected tropical diseases among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): overview and update. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Apr 16;9(4): e0003575.
Peanumlom P, Swaddiwudhipong W, Umphong T, Jaiyake P. Prevalence of helminthiasis among myanmar migrants in the municipality of mae sot, tak province, 2008. Journal of Health Science. 2011;20:31–7. (in Thai)
Nuchprayoon S, Sanprasert V, Kaewzaithim S, Saksirisampant W. Screening for intestinal parasitic infections among Myanmar migrant workers in Thai food industry: a high-risk transmission. J Immigr Minor Health. 2009 Apr;11(2):115–21.
Ngrenngarmlert W, Kritsiriwuthinan K, Nilmanee N. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among myanmar workers in Bangkok and Samut Sakhon. Asia J Public Health. 2012;3(2):53–8.
Sagnuankiat S, Wanichsuwan M, Bhunnachet E, Jungarat N, Panraksa K, Komalamisra C, et al. Health status of immigrant children and environmental survey of child daycare centers in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand. J Immigr Minor Health. 2016;18(1):21–7.
Kaewpitoon S, Sangwalee W, Kujapun J, Norkaew J, Chuatanam J, Ponphimai S, et al. Active screening of gastrointestinal helminth infection in migrant workers in Thailand. Journal of International Medical Research. 2018;46(11):4560–8.
Olsen A, van Lieshout L, Marti H, Polderman T, Polman K, Steinmann P, et al. Strongyloidiasis—the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases? Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009;103(10):967–72.
Forrer A, Khieu V, Scha¨r F, Hattendorf J, Marti H, Neumayr A, et al. Strongyloides stercoralis is associated with significant morbidity in rural Cambodia, including stunting in children. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Oct 23;11(10):e0005685. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005685. eCollection 2017 Oct.
Schär F, Inpankaew T, Traub RJ, Khieu V, Dalsgaard A, Chimnoi W, et al. The prevalence and diversity of intestinal parasitic infections in humans and domestic animals in a rural Cambodian village. Parasitol Int. 2014;63(4):597–603.
Chesnaye N, Sinuon M, Socheat D, Koporc K, Mathieu E. Treatment coverage survey after a school-based mass distribution of mebendazole: Kampot Province, Cambodia. Acta Trop. 2011;118(1):21–6.
Miyamoto K, Kirinoki M, Matsuda H, Hayashi N, Chigusa Y, Sinuon M, et al. Field survey focused on Opisthorchis viverrini infection in five provinces of Cambodia. Parasitol Int. 2014 Apr;63(2):366–73.
Ministry of Public Health (TH), Office of the Permanent Secretary, Division of Health Economics and Health Insurance. Health examination and health insurance measures for foreign workers. Nonthaburi: Ministry of Public Health; 2020. (in Thai)
Sota P, Andityas M, Kotepui M, Sripa B. Prevalence estimates of Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis infection in the Greater Mekong subregion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Infect Dis Poverty. 2024;13(1):33.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Weekly Epidemiological Surveillance Report
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
1. เนื้อหาและข้อมูลในบทความที่ลงพิมพ์กับ WESR ถือเป็นข้อคิดเห็น และความรับผิดชอบของผู้เขียนบทความโดยตรงซึ่งกองบรรณาธิการวารสารไม่จำเป็นต้องเห็นด้วย หรือร่วมรับผิดชอบใด ๆ
2. บทความ ข้อมูล เนื้อหา รูปภาพ ฯลฯ ที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์ใน WESR ถือเป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสารวิชาการ หากบุคคลหรือหน่วยงานใดต้องการนำทั้งหมดหรือส่วนหนึ่ง ส่วนใดไปเผยแพร่ กรุณาอ้างอิงบทความนั้น ๆ
