A Study of Prevalence of Worm Infestation and Associated Risk Factors among the School Children of Dharan, Eastern Region of Nepal

Abstract

Background: Worm infestation has remained major zoonotic diseases in Nepal especially among children. Objectives: To measure the prevalence of worm infestation and to identify risk factors associated with worm infestation among the school children of Dharan. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among school children of Dharan. Stratified random sampling method was applied to choose the schools and the study subjects. The Chi-square test was used to measure the association of risk factors and worm infestation. Results: Overall prevalence of worm infestation among the school children was 11.3 percent. Taenia species was found very high (5.3%) in comparison to other worms i.e. Hookworm (2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.9%), Trichuris trichiura (1%), Hymenolepsis nana (0.7%) and Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%). No significant relationship was traced among the factors in the causation of worm infestation although slight indications present. Conclusions: Overall prevalence of worm infestation among the school children has remained high.