Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Schoolchildren in Grand Bois Haiti: A Prevalence Study

• Main Author: De Pasquale, John M
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Archive @ GSU 2007
• Subjects: Public Health
• Online Access: http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/iph_theses/130; http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=iph_theses

This study used secondary data collected in 2006 to assess the prevalence and severity of three common soil-transmitted helminths in schoolchildren in rural, mountainous, eastern Haiti, and using a case-control design looked at age and gender as independent risk factors, and at anemia and growth failure as potential outcomes of infection. The primary aim was to determine if prevalence and severity were high enough to meet World Health Organization (WHO) population-based deworming criteria. Results do support mass deworming, but overall, indicate no correlation between the other independent variables or outcome measures with presence of disease. A secondary data set from the coastal town of Leogane, Haiti was used as a comparison population where a similar study was performed in 1996. Based on findings, recommendations will be made to Haitian health authorities.