Philippine E-Journals

Health-Risk Assessment: Interplay of Multi-Factor Variability on Sex, Location, Infection Rate, Analytical Method and Nature of Intestinal Parasites

Avee Joy B. Dayaganon

 

Abstract:

Intestinal parasitic infections in the Philippines continue to be a significant health hazard. These infections vary from mild intestinal disturbances to severe multiple organ involvement. The objectives of this study were to determine infection rate of intestinal parasitosis among food handlers of the three UIC campuses based on sex, location and methods of examination (DFS, FECT) using three sample collections done in three consecutive weeks. Of the total 36 food handlers, 36.11% were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. The Entamoeba nana has the highest percent rate of parasitism of 19.44% (seven out of 36 respondents), followed by Blastocystis hominis at 16.67%>, and E. histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Elookworm species with 5.56%). Trichuris. trichiura, Elymenolepis nana and Eheterophyid fluke were in the lowest rank with 2.78%) rate of parasitism. Based on gender, female group surpassed the male group using DFS, but in the FECT, both genders do not significantly differ. Stratified by location, there is no significant difference using DFS, while FECT showed a significant difference in the infection rate of intestinal parasitosis. A significant variation exists between DFS and FECT, and noting the direction of the difference, it could be concluded that FECT is superior to DFS.