English

Abstract

The overall prevalence of helminths infection in school age children in India is about 50% in Urban and 68% in rural area. Tribal populations especially the children living under low socio-economic conditions in the rural villages where poor sanitary system exist are at higher risk of worm infestation. Objectives: To assess mother's knowledge and practice towards worm infection of their under five children. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among 117 mothers of under five children who were selected through systematic random sampling method in the year 2012 and face to face interview was performed using semi-structured questionnaire in the rural village under Mohanpur Rural Development block, West district of Tripura. RESULTS: 19%, 26.80% and 2.6% of respondent reported of round worm, thread worms and tape worms respectively. 23%, 19.60%, 19.60%, 23% and 14.80% reported of pain abdomen, pain abdomen and itching, perianal itching, vomiting and worms in stool or worms coming through nose respectively. About 51.60% of the respondents were unable to describe even a single helminthic infection. There were significant associations observed between helminthic infection and use of types of latrine (p=0.000), hand washing after defecation (p=0.000), regular hand wash before meals (p=0.000) and regular use of foot wears (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the respondents being literate, intestinal helminthiasis was considered harmless and normal phenomenon. A wrong idea also prevailed that eating sugary things caused worm infestation. Other risk factors that existed were lack of hygienic behavior about washing hands & using insanitary latrines. Awareness generation and behavior change programs were needed in this group of population.