Chapter V

SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary, findings, conclusion and recommendation based from
the gathered data in this study entitled Prevalence and Intensity of Soil Transmitted
Helminthiasis in Preschool Children of Bawing, General Santos City.
Summary
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of soil transmitted
helminthiasis in preschool children of Bawing, General Santos City.
The researchers used the mean and frequency distribution in order to determine the most
prevalent helminth among the preschool children of Bawing. The results showed that the most
prevalent helminths infecting the preschool children of Bawing, General Santos City are the
Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. The result is likely possible since the mode of
transmission of both helminths is the same- ingestion of eggs from contaminated sources (WHO,
2013).
The researchers also used the RITM standard solution (number of eggs counted x 24) to
solve for the infection intensity of the preschool children and the WHO thresholds for intensity
of infection table as a guide to identify the infection intensity among the preschool children. The
result showed light (1-4, 999 epg for A. lumbricoides and 1-999 epg for T. trichiura) to heavy (
50, 000 epg for A. lumbricoides and 10, 000 epg for T. trichiura) infection intensity, with most
of the respondents having moderate (5, 000-49, 000 epg for A. lubricoides and 1, 000- 9, 999 epg
for T. trichiura) infection intensity.

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The researchers used the results from the frequency distribution in order to identify the
types of soil-transmitted helminths that infect the preschool children. Based on the results, two
types of soil-transmitted helminths infect the preschool children. The two helminths that are
present in the stool specimen of the preschool children are Ascaris lumbricoides commonly
known as the giant round worm and Trichuris trichiura also known as whipworm. The result is
in line with the fact that the most common specie that infects the people is the roundworm
(Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the hookworms (Necator
americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).
Findings of the Study
After the analysis and interpretation of data, this study generated the following results:

1. Based on the results, the most prevalent helminth among the preschool children is
both the Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura having a prevalence of 23.7%.
2. The results showed that the intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among
preschool children ranges from light to heavy intensity. One (11.1%) respondent has
light infection intensity for Ascaris lumbricoides while Trichuris trichiura has two
(22.2%) respondents. Heavy infection intensity was observed on both helmints, with
3 (33.3%) respondents for Ascaris lumbricoides and 2 (22.2%) respondents for
Trichuris trichiura. Most of the respondents showed moderate infection intensity with
five (55.6%) respondents each.
3. It is showed that two types of soil-transmitted helminths infect the preschool children.
These are the Ascaris lumbricoides and trichuris trichiura.

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Conclusion
Based on the findings, the following conclusions were made:
1. The most prevalent helminths among the preschool children are the Ascaris
lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura.
2. The intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among preschool children is different
among each other. Some displayed light infection intensity while others showed
heavy infection intensity. But most of the respondents showed moderate infection
intensity. Light infections are often asymptomatic. Heavy infection of Ascaris
lumbricoides can cause intestinal blockage and cough due to migration of the worms
through the body. Stools that are mucoid, watery, and bloody or a mixture of the three
can be experienced by people with heavy infection of Trichuris trichiura.
3. The type of soil-transmitted helminths infecting the preschool children is the Ascaris
lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. Both of these helminths can be acquired by man
through ingestion of food or soil contaminated with eggs. The eggs will hatch,
releasing the larvae that will mature further until it becomes an adult worm. Though
both of these helminthes have almost the same life cycle, the area of larval maturity
differs. The larvae of A. lumbricoides mature in the lungs but become adult worms in
the intestines. On the other hand, the site for larval maturity and development into an
adult worm of T. trichiura is in the intestine. These helminths grow optimally at
warm and moist environments.

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Recommendations
Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made:
1. For the Barangay to conduct proper hygiene seminars among families to prevent
future helminth infection.
2. For healthcare providers to conduct a study that will determine predisposing
factors that lead the pre-school children to helminthiasis.
3. For healthcare providers to conduct a quarterly prevalence and intensity study to
monitor the recurrence of helminth infection among the preschool children.
4. For future researchers to conduct a correlation study to identify the factors that
cause the recurrence of infection and the difference in the intensity of infection of
the preschool children.
5. For future researchers to conduct a study using a different locality in order to
provide more data about the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted
helminthiasis.