The Relationship Between Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infection and Learning Achievement Based on Nutritional Status of Elementary School 100906 Students in Manompas Village, Muara Batang Toru District, Tapanuli Regency South of North Sumatra Province

Abstract

Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) are intestinal parasitic worms that cause infection in humans, which are transmitted through soil. Worms cause decreased health conditions and the productivity of the sufferer. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between Soil Transmitted Helminth infection and student achievement based on nutritional status in children. This research was conducted using a combination method (mixed methods research design). Quantitative research used a cross sectional design, while qualitative research was conducted to explore in-depth information from the head of the puskesmas, the principal, the homeroom teacher (teacher), the parents of students, and students of SDN 100906 Manompas. Examination of stool samples using the Kato Katz method was carried out at the Parasitology Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University in June – November 2020. The population in this study were all children of SDN 100906 Manompas, with 60 samples that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria selected by simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using Chi square test. The results showed that the percentage of male and female students from all classes infected with STH was the same (50.0%) with the mean age of the infected students (9.35 ± 1.82) years. Type STH with mild category Ascaris lumbricoides percentage (20%), compared with Trichuris trichiura (10%). Students infected with STH at the most were with moderate achievement (50.0%) and students infected with STH at the most were with low nutritional status (62.5%). The results of statistical tests using Chi square showed that there was no significant relationship between STH infection and learning achievement with p value = 0.340, and there was a significant relationship between STH infection and nutritional status with p value = 0.034 (p < 0.05). The conclusion of this study is that there is no significant relationship between STH infection and learning achievement and there is a significant relationship between STH infection and nutritional status. There are other factors that affect learning achievement apart from STH infection. Keywords: STH, Learning Achievement, Nutritional Status.