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Socio-demographic correlates influencing the trend of intestinal parasitic infestation in a rural community of West Bengal, India

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Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to estimate the change in magnitude of intestinal parasitic infestation, distribution of various socio-demographic factors and their possible influence on the parasitic infestation in the community over a period of 4 years.

Subject and methods

Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 2004 and 2008 in an agriculture-dependent rural community in Singur block of Hooghly district of West Bengal. The changing pattern of socio-behavioural characteristics was compared with intestinal parasitic infestation using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

A statistically significant decline in intestinal parasitic infestation from 94/246 (38.20%) in 2004 to 56/210 (26.70%) in 2008 was detected. The univariate analysis showed that absence of chronically ill patients at home, use of a sanitary latrine and easier access to medication were important correlates. Laboratory investigation was often negative for symptomatic subjects. A statistically significant decline was noted in the later phase of the study in the proportion of infested persons among illiterates, those using untreated surface water for washing utensils and those using a sanitary latrine. However, multivariate analysis failed to identify the single most important determinant that influences the change; rather the overall decline in 4 years time is the key finding indicating a potential role of multiple factors.

Conclusion

The significant decline in parasitic infestation rates probably can be attributed to overall improvement in socio-behavioural factors. With the decline in intestinal parasitic infestation, symptomatic subjects should be screened for other diseases with similar presenting symptoms.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the participants of this present study. The work was supported by a grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India

    Sintu Samanta, T. K. Maiti & Sudip K. Ghosh

  2. Kothari Medical Centre, 8/3 Alipore Road, Kolkata, 700 027, India

    Soumyendu Mehra

  3. Community Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata, India

    Pramit Ghosh

Authors
  1. Sintu Samanta
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  2. Soumyendu Mehra
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  3. T. K. Maiti
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  4. Pramit Ghosh
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  5. Sudip K. Ghosh
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Correspondence to Pramit Ghosh or Sudip K. Ghosh.

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Samanta, S., Mehra, S., Maiti, T.K. et al. Socio-demographic correlates influencing the trend of intestinal parasitic infestation in a rural community of West Bengal, India. J Public Health 20, 405–412 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-011-0478-3

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