Prevalence and Risk Factors for Opisthorchis viverrini Infections in Upper Northeast Thailand

Abstract

Opisthorchis viverrini is an ongoing public health problem in Northeast Thailand. Despite continuous efforts for decades by healthcare organizations to overcome this problem, infection rates remain high. To enable related personnel to identify and address the various issues effectively, a cross-sectional study was performed to investigate prevalence and risk factors for opisthorchiasis. The target group was 3,916 Thai residents of Northeast Thailand who were 15 or over. Participants were recruited using the 30 clusters sampling technique. The data were gathered through questionnaires, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and stool examinations for parasite eggs (using the Modified Kato Katz method). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inference statistics; in order to ascertain the risk factors and test them using the odds ratio and multiple logistic regressions. The prevalence of opisthorchiasis was 22.7% (95%CI: 0.26 to 0.24). The province with the highest prevalence was Nakhorn Phanom (40.9%; female to male ratio =1:1.2). The age group with the highest prevalence was 40-49 year olds. All age groups had a prevalence >20%. Four of seven provinces had a prevalence >20%. The factors related to opisthorchiasis were (a) sex, (b) age (especially > 50), (c) proximity and duration living near a water body, and (d) eating raw and/or fermented fish. In order to reduce the prevalence of opisthorchiasis, the focus in populations living in upper Northeast Thailand should be changing their eating behaviors as appropriate to their tradition and context.

Uncovering the Pathogenic Landscape of Helminth (Opisthorchis viverrini) Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study on Contributions of Physical and Social Environment and Healthcare Interventions

“…Far higher infection prevalence in males than in females accords with findings from some previous studies [52,53]. Little difference in prevalence between genders has also been reported [38,54], although Hasewell-Elkin et al [54] notes that the frequency of high infection intensities may be higher among males.…”

Risk factors for Opisthorchis viverrini Infection in Nong Khai Province, Thailand

“…Nong Khai has one of the highest rates of OV infection in the upper region of Northeast Thailand (Thaewnongiew et al, 2014). Although much is already known about the risk factors for OV infection, these needed to be confirmed for Nong Khai.…”

Risk factors for Opisthorchis viverrini infection in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, where the infection is highly endemic

“…Nationwide studies of factors associated with O. viverrini infection in each area of Thailand found that sex and education were significant factors in O. viverrini infection in an urban area of Mahasarakham province where overall prevalence was 15% [9]. Sex, age, and eating raw or fermented fish were significantly associated with O. viverrini in the northeast of Thailand in a large population in which the overall prevalence of opisthorchiasis was 22.7% [7], eating raw fish and age were significant factors in area O. viverrini infection in a rural area of Chacheongsao province where the prevalence was 26.2% [10]. Use of anthelmintic in the past, eating raw fish, and the unsafe disposal of waste food were significant factors in Nong Khai province where the prevalence of O. viverrini infection was 33% [11].…”

“…The prevalence of O. viverrini infection in Nakhon Phanom remains highest among 7 provinces in the upper northeastern region of Thailand at 40.9%. Nevertheless, Sakon Nakhon province had a high prevalence of 32.1%, followed by Nong Khai (24.3%), Nong Bua Lam Phu (23.6%), Udon Thani (19.5%), Loei (17.5%), and Bueng Kan (17%) [7]. However, this prevalence is probably grossly underestimated as suggested by estimates using newer polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic techniques [8].…”