Study on Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Tharu Community of Bardiya District

Abstract

Present study was carried out among Tharu people of Rajapur-6 VDC of Bardiya District to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. This study also specifies the correlation between parasitic infection and sanitary facilities, source of drinking water and others among the Tharu people. The study was conducted from June 2006 to July 2007. Altogether 511 stool samples were collected from the volunteers of Rajapur-6 VDC (257 initially and 254 after anti parasitic drug distribution). The samples were formalin fixed and brought to Kathmandu. The laboratory process was done at NITMPHR. The samples were examined using directsmear technique, formal ether sedimentation technique, sucrose floatation technique and modified acid-fast stain. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was found to be (68.0%) initially and (60.0%) after drug distribution, out of which (16.0%) had multiple parasitism and (84.0%) had mono parasitism. Females were marginally more infected (68.5%) than male (67.6%) (P>0.05). Hookworm (17.0%) was the commonest helminth and Giardia lamblia (18.5%) was the commonest protozoa found. People below 15 years were more infected (74.5%) than above 15 years(63.5%) (P>0.05). Prevalence of parasitic infection rate in family size above 6 was found higher (70.3%) than below 6 (66.1%) (P>0.05). The rate of parasitic infection was found to be higher (84.4%) to those suffering from recent diarrhoea than non suffer (64.6%) (P>0.05). After drug distribution, prevalence was found to be (60.0%),out of which (72.5%) had mono parasitism and (27.5%) had multi parasitism Those people who had taken anti parasitic drug within past 6 months had significantly lower prevalence rate (56.6%) than those who had not taken (62.8%) (P<0.05). Hence prevalence of parasitic infection was studied along with correlation of different parameters. Key words:Tharu people, intestinal parasites, Rajapur VDC, Bardiya district