Prevalence and risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections among Myanmar migrants and local Thais in Phang Nga Province, Thailand

Abstract

The cross-sectional study was designed for studying the prevalence of intestinal parasites and identifying their risk factors in Tha Yu sub-district. Takua Thung district, Phang Nga province. The study groups included 231 Myanmar migrant workers who worked in parawood fields, and 224 local thais who stayed at village number 3, 4 and 5, Tha Yu sub-district, The intestinal parasites were detected from faecal samples by microscopy using a simple smear and a formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Intestinal parasitic prevalence was found in 232 out of 455 (51%) studied population (i.e. 73.6% of Myanmar migrants and 27.7% of local thais). All 232 in fected cases were 42 (18.1%) positively diagnosed for protozoal infections, 115 (49.57%) helminth infections and 75 (32.33%) mixed infections of both protozoa and helminthes. These pathogenic protozoa were Entamoeba histolytical Entamoeba dispar (6.6%). Giardia lamblia (3.7%) and Balantidium coli (0.4%). The helminthic infections were Trichuris trichiura (26.4%). Ascaris lumbricoides (16.3%), hookworm (19.3%). Strongylodies stercoraalis (1.5%), Opisthorchis viverrini (0.7%) and Taenia spp. (0.2%). The risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections were statistically predicted by the method of logistic regression analysis at 95% confidential interval. The result showed that the significant associated factors were nationality (OR = 15.8, 95% Cl of OR = 8.762 – 28,559), the type of toilet in the house (OR =14.4, 95%) Cl of OR = 1.892-109.856) and the consumption of tab water (OR = 2.1 95%) Cl of OR = 1,049 – 4089).