Pinworm infection prevalence and associated factors among children aged 1 to 5 in Krong Pac district, Dak Lak province in 2023

Tóm tắt

Background: Pinworm is globally prevalent nematode worm often found in children, causing symptoms such as anal itching, digestive disturbances, and physical discomfort caused by the worms migrating. In Vietnam, the prevalence of pinworm infection among children is noticeable in most provinces and cities, with infection rates ranging from 10.6% to 26.9%. However, previous researches predominantly concentrated on school-going children, with limited investigation into children residing in households. Methods: this study employed two sequential research designs. First, a cross-sectional study was conducted in households, involving 1031 children aged 1 to 5 years, to determine the prevalence of pinworm infection. Subsequently, a case-control study was performed with 129 children in the case group and 258 children in the control group to investigate the environmental and personal hygiene factors associated with pinworm infection. The Graham technique was employed to identify children infected with pinworms, and a structured questionnaire was used to gather information about the population characteristics and exposure factors of the children. Statistical analysis techniques such as the Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression were applied to establish the relationship between exposure factors and pinworm infection. Results: the study revealed that the prevalence of pinworm infection, was found to be 12.5% (with a confidence interval of 10.5% to 14.5%). Notably, the infection prevalence in boys (16.0%) was higher than in girls (7.9%). Several risk factors associated with worm infection were identified, including practices such as handwashing before eating and after playing, the use of hand and bath soap, cleaning of children’s toys, and the deworming status of caregivers. Conclusion: pinworm infection in children remained a prevalent issue in the region and was primarily linked to personal hygiene practices.