Prevalence of Helminthiasis among Myanmar Migrants in the Municipality of Mae Sot, Tak Province, 2008 - ความชุกของโรคหนอนพยาธิ ในข่าวต่างชาติ ที่อพยพมาอาศัยอยู่ในเขตเทศบาลเมืองแม่สอด จังหวัดตาก ปี 2551

Abstract

This paper reports the prevalence of helminthiasis among Myanmar migrants in the municipality of Mae Sot, Tak Province, 2008. The sample was randomly selected by using the 30-cluster sampling technique. Fecal samples were examined for parasitic eggs using the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. Frequency and percentage were used to present the results of analysis. The chi-square test was used for comparison between factors and helminthiasis and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with infection. Of the 1,751 migrants examined, 475 (27.1%) had at least one helminth. The highest prevalence of helminthiasis was among migrants 15-24 years old (34.7%), followed by those 5-14 years of age (31.1%). The prevalence of infection slightly decreased with higher educational levels. Students and factory workers had lower prevalence rates than others. Migrants registered for work permits had a lower rate than those who were not. The most common helminth identified was Trichuris trichiura (18.0%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (8.8%) and hookworm (4.0%). A decrease in prevalence of infection was associated with increasing age, being a factory worker and being registered for work permits. This study indicates that yearly provision of a broad spectrum anti-helminthic drug to all migrants registered for work permits is effective and should also cover those who are not registered.