Environmental Risk Factors and Hookworm Infection among Schoolchildren in Rural Areas of Indonesia

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of hookworm infection is a serious public health concern globally. Java Island and Kalimantan Island have differential environmental risk factors of hookworm infection especially in rural areas of Indonesia have high-risk environmental factors of the prevalence of hookworm infection.

Aim: In this study showed the infection rates, correlation analysis between environmental risk factors, and prevalence of hookworm infection.

Method: We performed a cross-sectional study among 226 schoolchildren from rural East Java p province, Central Java Province, and East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. This study used two diagnostic methods: Kato Katz and Koga agar plate culture/KAP culture for diagnosing hookworm infections. Pearson chi-square analysis was used to study the correlation between environmental factors and hookworm infection.

Results: Hookworm, Strongyloides sp, and Ascaris sp infections were found in this study; 137(60.63%), 25(11.1%), and 124(9.84%) respectively. Environmental risk factors such as; rainy season, quality of soil, and infection hookworm in pets have a significant correlation (p-value < 0.05) with hookworm infection among schoolchildren in a rural area in Indonesia.

Conclusion: The prevalence of hookworm infection correlates with environmental factors, and the finding in this research could be contributed to decreasing the program of hookworm infection especially among schoolchildren in rural areas.