Occurrence of soil-transmitted helminths in women at the Himalayan region of Nepal.

OBJECTIVE To find the occurrence pattern and prevalence of the soil transmitted helminths in women of child bearing age group. METHODS AND MATERIALS The study was conducted in Jiri , an area of Dolakha district at the altitude of 2100 meter from sea level. The faecal sample of 478 women of childbearing age (15 to 45 years) were taken randomly and examined for the ova of soil transmitted helianthus. RESULT The occurrence pattern was 53.0%, 20.0% and 2.7% for Hookworms, Ascaries lumbricoids and Trichuris Trichuria respectively. Both Ascaries and Hookworm prevalence rates noticeably increased with increasing age, with the highest infection rate between the age of 36-45 years while trichuris infection reached the highest in women of 15-25 years of age. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of hookworm and ascaries in women of childbearing age and necessary intervention is needed according to WHO guidelines.