Parents' Knowledge about Enterobiasis Might Be One of the Most Important Risk Factors for Enterobiasis in Children.
10.3347/kjp.2010.48.2.121
- Author:
Dong Hee KIM
1
;
Hyun Mi SON
;
Joo Young KIM
;
Min Kyoung CHO
;
Mee Kyung PARK
;
Sin Ye KANG
;
Bo Young KIM
;
Hak Sun YU
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 626-870, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Enterobius vermicularis;
risk factor;
cellotape anal swab;
health education
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2010;48(2):121-126
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
To know the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection and what are the most important risk factors, we evaluated the incidence and risk factors of enterobiasis among children attended in kindergartens in Busan metropolitan city, Republic of Korea. A total of 1,674 children from 21 kindergartens in 11 of 16 autonomous districts of Busan were evaluated for E. vermicularis infection by the cellotape anal swab technique. The overall egg-positive rate for E. vermicularis was 10.7% (179/1,674), and the prevalence of enterobiasis in each kindergarten ranged between 0% and 32.4%. There was an increasing tendency of the egg positive rate according to the population density; the higher the population density communities had, the higher egg-positive rate for E. vermicularis was detected (P = 0.001). Among personal hygiene factors involving children, thumb-sucking (P = 0.036) and fingernail-trimming (P = 0.024) were highly associated with enterobiasis. In addition, taking anthelmintic medications against E. vermicularis infection was strongly associated with enterobiasis (P = 0.014). Moreover, parents' knowledge of enterobiasis was correlated significantly with the incidence of enterobiasis of their children (P = 0.006). In conclusion, we need to consider not only personal hygiene but also parents' knowledge about enterobiasis as a factor in order to develop new strategies for elimination or to complete reduction of enterobiasis in Korea.
