Prevalence, Spatial distribution, and Risk Factors of Enterobius vermicularis among Children in Kidapawan City, Philippines

Abstract

The high prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis is typically associated with sociodemographic characteristics and hygiene practices as risk factors. In this study, a geospatial tool was used to determine the distribution of Enterobius vermicularis across Kidapawan City, Philippines. A cohort of 138 respondents was included, and the prevalence of enterobiasis was determined using the scotch tape method, which is considered the gold standard for Enterobius vermicularis identification. An adopted survey tool was used to identify the associated risk factors and was analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. A geospatial mapping tool was used to visualize the distribution of enterobiasis among children. The results showed a 15.21% prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection in the rural area of Kidapawan City, Philippines. The results also showed that age (p = 0.000), mother’s educational level(p = 0.009), handwashing after toileting (p = 0.001) and before eating (p = 0.006), bathing without assistance (p = 0.002), and sharing a bed (p = 0.001) were all significant risk factors that may contribute to the prevalence of enterobiasis. The study provides the need for comprehensive public health interventions targeting both individual hygiene practices and socioeconomic factors to effectively control and prevent the spread of E. vermicularis infection within the community.