Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Employees of Manufacturing Industries in Samut Prakarn Province

Abstract

A survey of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in employees of manufacturing industries in Samut Prakarn Province was carried out during March 2012 – February 2013. A total of 540 fecal samples were obtained from 6 districts in Samut Prakarn Province. The highest rate of infections was among the subjects aged between 31- 40 years (2.59%). The percentage parasite positive from Bangphli, Bangsautong, Bangbo, Samut- Jadee, Muang and Prapadang districts were 1.85, 1.30, 1.30, 0.93, 0.56 and 0.37, respectively. Out of 335 male subjects, 20 subjects (5.97%) were found to be infected with parasites. Of 205 female subjects, 14 subjects (6.83%) were found to be infected with parasites. The number of the infected samples from the North were 4 (7.84%), from Central were 5 (4.13), from the Eastern were 3 (6.67%), from the South were 0 (0%), from the Northeast were 19 (6.13%) and from the foreigners were 3 (60%) respectively. Parasites found in the infected subjects were Giardia lamblia, Opisthorchis viverrini, Taenia spp., Hookworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between parasitic infections and domicile, job status, personal hygiene and consumption behavior (p<0.05) but age, gender, income, education level as well as knowledge on parasitic infection had no significant effect.