Publication: Hookworm infections among Aboriginal (Orang Asli) Primary School Children at a Semi Urban School in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
Abstract
Hookworm infection is one of the most common soil-transmitted helminth infections among the rural communities of the tropics. In Malaysia, the infection is commonly reported among the underprivileged communities living in poverty especially the aborigines (Orang Asli). While many studies focused on the prevalence of hookworm infection in rural
communities, there is a lack of studies among the urban or semi urban aboriginal communities. The cross-sectional study was performed in a semi urban aboriginal primary school in Kuala Kubu Bharu. A total of 159 stool samples were collected among the school children. All samples were subjected to direct stool smear and formalin-ether concentration technique followed by microscopic observation. The overall prevalence of hookworm infection among the semi urban school children was low (7.55% ; 12/159) and the highest was among school children aged 11 years old. Male school children had higher prevalence of hookworm infection (10.14 % ; 7/69) in comparison to female students (5.55% ; 5/90). This study shows that living in semi urban area with better facilities and improved sanitation provide good chance and hope for prevention and control of hookworm infection among the aboriginal school children.
Description
Buletin SK 4(2)(2020): 60-62
Keywords
Hookworm;, aboriginal (Orang Asli) school children,, semi urban school