Home⇛LPU-St. Cabrini Journal of Allied Medicine⇛vol. 5 no. 3 (2023)

Awareness of Filipino Gardeners from Calamba, Laguna about Soil-Transmitted Helminthic Infections

Brix Bawit | Rey Christian Capitan | Chezka Del Rosario | Mary Rose Quijano | Mavreen Tobias

Discipline: Environmental and Public Health

 

Abstract:

The researchers discovered that the soil conditions in Calamba are ideal for the development of Soil- Transmitted Helminth eggs. Calamba's soil conditions in terms of temperature, pH, and moisture meet the critical criterion for optimal STH parasite development and transmission. The goal of this study is to investigate Calamba, Laguna gardeners' awareness of the dangers associated with simple gardening, their perception of risks related to garden soil's contaminant for soil-transmitted helminths, and their daily routine before, during, and after gardening. To have a reliable source of information towards the awareness of Filipino gardeners from Calamba, Laguna regarding Soil Transmitted Helminth infection, a well-designed and structured quantitative research was used. The researchers conducted a descriptive, observational study on 120 gardeners wherein Google Forms was used to distribute questionnaires to respondents. The findings revealed that gardeners frequently garden within a day, and most of them use organic fertilizers, putting them at a high risk of STH infection. Several factors, challenges, and needs have also been identified related to respondents' awareness of the risk of soil-transmitted helminthic infections, including low levels of concern and inconsistent levels of knowledge about conducting soil testing and self-medication, limited knowledge of best practices for reducing exposure, and a need for clear and concise information on how to best prevent and manage the STH infection. As a result of this discovery, a website has been created to raise awareness about STH transmission, symptoms, prevention, and appearance among our local gardeners.



References:

  1. Adegoke, A. A., Awolusi, O. O., & Stenström, T. A. (2016, June 30). Organic fertilizers: Public health intricacies. IntechOpen. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/51059.
  2. Andrade, C., Menon, V., Ameen, S., & Praharaj, S. K. (2020). Designing and conducting knowledge, attitude, and practice surveys in Psychiatry: Practical Guidance. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(5), 478–481. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620946111
  3. CDC - Ascariasis - Resources for Health Professionals. (2020, May 20). Centers for Disease Control and   Prevention.      Retrieved         November       11,       2021,            from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/health_professionals/index.html
  4. CDC - Soil-transmitted Helminths. (2021, November 27). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.          Retrieved         November       10,       2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/sth/index.html
  5. CDC - Trichuriasis. (2020, October 27). Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 10, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/whipworm/index.html
  6. CDC. (2019). CDC - DPDX - Intestinal Hookworm. https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/hookworm/index.html
  7. Ellis, M. E. (2022). Protective Clothing For Gardeners – The Best Protective Garden Gear. Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/protective-clothing.htm
  8. Fetouh, N. (2003). Ancylostoma duodenale. Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ancylostoma_duodenale/ 
  9. Guy, K. (2011). Ascaris lumbricoides (human intestinal roundworm) | INFORMATION | Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ascaris_lumbricoides/
  10. Johns, J. (2023, October 28). How to prepare a garden plot. Gardening Gains. https://gardeninggains.com/how-to-prepare-a-garden-plot/
  11. Kim, B., Poulsen, M., Margulies, J., Dix, K., Palmer, A., & Nachman, K. (2014). Urban Community Gardeners’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Soil Contaminant Risks. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3916346/#pone.0087913-Morgan1
  12. Lorenzo, P. J., Manzanilla, D. R., Cortel, D. K. & Tangog, E. (2019). Community perceptions of mass drug administration for soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis in selected schools   in         the       Philippines.      Retrieved from https://idpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40249-019-0595-8
  13. Mationg, M. L. S., Tallo, V. L., Williams, G. M., Gordon, C. A., Clements, A. C. A., McManus, D. P., & Gray, D. J. (2021, June 12). The control of soil-transmitted helminthiases in the Philippines: The story continues. Infectious Diseases of Poverty. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://idpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40249-021-00870-z.
  14. Mayo Clinic. (2020, December 22). Ascariasis - Symptoms and causes.. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ascariasis/symptoms- causes/syc- 20369593
  15. McCrate, C., & Halm, B. (2022, May). How much garden? Storey Publishing. Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://www.storey.com/article/how-much-garden/
  16. Mirasol, P. B. (2022, February 1). Dr. google, self-medicating preferred by Filipinos - survey. BusinessWorld         Online. Retrieved         May     27,       2022,   from https://www.bworldonline.com/health/2022/02/02/427233/dr-google-self-medicating- preferred-by-filipinos-survey/
  17. Montresor, A., Mupfasoni, D., Mikhailov, A., Mwinzi, P., Lucianez, A., Jamsheed, M., Gasimov, E., Warusavithana, S., Yajima, A., Bisoffi, Z., Buonfrate, D., Steinmann, P., Utzinger, J., Levecke, B., Vlaminck, J., Cools, P., Vercruysse, J., Cringoli, G., Rinaldi, L., & Blouin, B. (2020). The global progress of soil-transmitted helminthiases control in 2020 and World Health  Organization            targets for        2030.   Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008505 
  18. Ocampo, Karl (2020). ‘Plantitos’, ‘plantitas’ sprout with profitters. Retrieved from newsinfo.inquirer.net: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1329557/plantitos-plantitas-sprout- with- profiteers 
  19. Paller, V. G. V., & Babia-Abion, S. (2019). Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) eggs contaminating soils in selected organic and conventional farms in the Philippines. Parasite Epidemiology and Control, 7, e00119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2019.e00119
  20. Pan American Health Organization. (n.d.). Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis. Retrieved from www.paho.org: https://www.paho.org/en/topics/soil-transmitted-helminthiasis
  21. Pearson, R. D. (2021, November 4). Trichuriasis. MSD Manual Professional Edition. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/infectious- diseases/nematodes- roundworms/trichuriasis
  22. Rosenstock, I. M. (1974). The health belief model and Preventive health behavior. Health Education Monographs, 2(4), 354–386. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019817400200405
  23. Ryan, D. (2019, December 6). 10 reasons why a safety perception survey should be your first ... EHSToday.     Retrieved         May     13,       2022,   from https://www.ehstoday.com/safety-leadership/article/21920506/10-reasons-why-a-safety-perception-survey-should-be-your-first-measurement-option
  24. Shaji, H., Chandran, V., & Mathew, L. (2021). Organic fertilizers as a route to controlled release of nutrients.           Retrieved         from https://www.sciencedirect.com/: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128195550000133
  25. Smith, D. S. (2021, July 16). Hookworm disease treatment & management: Approach considerations, pharmacologic therapy, prevention. Hookworm Disease Treatment & Management: Approach Considerations, Pharmacologic Therapy, Prevention. Retrieved November    16,       2021,   from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/218805-overview#:~:text=Albendazole%20appears%20to%20be%20superior,Ancylostoma%%2020%20and%2075%25%20for%20Necator
  26. Sunga, B. S., & Advincula, J. L. (2021). The “plantito/plantita” home gardening during the pandemic. Università Del Salento, 7(1), 88–105. https://doi.org/10.1285/i24212113v7i1p88
  27. Tang, Y. T., Gao, X., Rosa, B. A., Abubucker, S., Hallsworth-Pepin, K., Martin, J., Tyagi, R., Heizer, E., Zhang, X., Bhonagiri-Palsikar, V., Minx, P., Warren, W. C., Wang, Q., Zhan, B., Hotez, P. J., Sternberg, P. W., Dougall, A., Gaze, S. T., Mulvenna, J., … Mitreva, M. (2014, January 19). Genome of the human hookworm Necator americanus. Nature News. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/ng.2875.
  28. World Health Organization: WHO. (2023, January 18). Soil-transmitted helminth infections. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections#:~:text=Morbidity%20is%20related%20to%20the,impaired%20growth%20and%20physical%20development.

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic