Pattern and Predictors of soil-transmitted helminth reinfections among orang asli (aborigine) schoolchildren in malaysia

Data on soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections and reinfections among Orang Asli schoolchildren and their nutritional and socioeconomic status were analyzed to investigate the pattern and the possible predictors of STH reinfections. In this longitudinal study, 120 (60 males and 60 females) Orang Asli primary schoolchildren aged 7-12 years and living in remote areas in Pos Betau, Kuala Lipis, Pahang were screened for the presence of STH using Kato-Katz and Harada Mori techniques. After complete deworming with 3-days course of 400 mg/daily of albendazole tablets, children were re-examined at 3 and 6 months from baseline. The overall prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infections were 65.8, 97.5 and 10.8%, respectively. The reinfection rate at 3 months after deworming was high (48.9%) while 80.3% of the children were reinfected by one or more of STH species at 6 months after deworming. Logistic regression analyses showed that females, stunted children and those living in houses without toilets had significantly higher reinfection rates than others at 3 months (p<0.05). At 6 months, maternal employment status joined the web of predictors and children of working mothers had significantly higher reinfection rates (p=0.026). In conclusion, reinfection rate of STH is high and thus necessitate frequent and periodic deworming among children. Public health personnel need to re-look at the current control measures and identify innovative and integrated ways in order to reduce STH significantly in the rural communities. correspondence: Professor Johari Surin, department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, university of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. tel: 006-03-7967 4747; Fax: 006-03-7976 4754 E-mail: [email protected]