Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among primary schoolchildren in rural areas from Bang Khla District, Chachoengsao Province, Central Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between January and March 2017 among 203 schoolchildren in four rural schools using purposive sampling. All stool samples were examined using simple direct smear method and formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 14.8% (30/203). Seven intestinal parasite species (two helminths and five protozoa) were identified in the stool samples. The most common intestinal protozoa in schoolchildren was Giardia intestinalis (n = 11, 5.4%) followed by Blastocystis hominis (n = 9, 4.4%), Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (n = 5, 2.5%), Entamoeba coli (n = 2, 1.0%) and Endolimax nana (n = 1, 0.5%). Hookworm (n = 1, 0.5%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (n = 1, 0.5%) were the most frequent helminths. No significant statistical differences in the prevalence rates of infections were observed by gender, age and school location (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Intestinal parasitic infection is a significant public health problem among schoolchildren in rural areas of Thailand. Therefore, health education and environmental sanitation improvement are recommended as preventive control measures.

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