Prevalence Of Gastro-Intestinal Helminth Parasites Of Indigenous Darai And Kumal Communiies Of Salyantar, Dhading

Abstract

In Nepal gastrointestinal helminthiases are endemic in indigenous people living in low land area of Nepal. Their life expectancy is well below in comparison to the other people.Darai and Kumal are marginalized group of people with low socio-economic condition.The present study was carried out on indigenous people (Darai and Kumal) from Salyantar ward no 1 and 2 of Dhading, Nepal from June to September 2018 in order to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth. A total of 189 (82 from Darai and 107 from Kumal) stool samples from people of two indigenous caste were collected and examined by direct smear methods under microscope along with structured questionnaire related with KAP in relation to intestinal parasitic infection and result were analyzed by “R” version 3.5.1. Among them 25.92% (28.04% of Darai and 24.29% of Kumal) were found positive for one or more intestinal helminths parasites. All together seven species of helminths were encountered. For Darai people, Trichuris trichiura (18.29%) was found to be most common than Ascaris lumbricoides (4.87%), Strongyloides stercoralis and Hymenolepis nana (3.65%), Taenia spp. (1.21%) without Enterobius vermicularis and hookworm infections. As for the Kumal people, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and Hymenolepis (7.47%) were most common infection prevailed over Strongyloides stercoralis (3.73%), Enterbius vermicularis (2.80%), Taenia spp. (1.86%) and hookworm infections (0.93%). According to age and sex, in Darai both male and female ˃ 50 years showed high parasitic prevalence 27.27% and 55.55% respectively. But in Kumal male ˃ 50 years showed high parasitic prevalence (27.27%) and female belongs to 36-50 years showed high parasitic prevalence (35.71%). The prevalence of single infection was higher than double and multiple infections with significant difference (p < 0.05). Among education attainment, from primary and higher level people showed significant association with prevalence of helminth infection. Similarly, occurrence of intestinal helminth parasites may attributed to lack of knowledge, awareness deficient, food habit, poor sanitation, open defecation, drinking water treatment method, hand washing agent were found to be significantly associated (p < 0.05) except occupation, source of drinking water and treatment methods (p ˃ 0.05). Hence a remarkable prevalence of helminth infection was indicated by study carried out among Darai and Kumal indigenous people of Salyantar, Dhading. Improvement in personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, periodic MDA, health education, awareness on modes of infection and prevention measures implementation in order to reduce and eradicate these infections.