1. Head, Atoifi College of Nursing
ELIMINATION OF SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS (STH): One village at a time.
PRESENTER:
Humpress Harrington
(B.N, M.Ed)
Head, Atoifi College of Nursing

2. Gut worms = Soil transmitted helminths (STH)
Worms that live in the intestines
Roundworms
Hookworms
Whipworms

3. Infective larvae in soil
Lifecycle of hookworm
In person
Female
Male
juvenile
Penetrates skin
Soil
Infective larvae in soil

4. Integrated control Worm Tablets Footwear / wash hands
Use Formal Toilets

5. Community-wide treatment
Worms killed, but return over time

6. STH research at Atoifi April 2011 – survey of Atoifi and Na’au
April 2012 – survey of Abitona and Sifilo
December 2013 – resurvey Na’au
March 2014 – STH training workshop
August 2014 – survey of Kwai and Ngongosila

7. Methods A cross-sectional survey
All residents older than 1 year were invited to participate by:
Providing a single sample of faeces that was examined using a modified Kato-Katz technique
Completing a questionnaire that asked demographic and STH-related behaviour questions.

8. Atoifi STH team

9. Results: 4 villages
Participation rate was 52.8%, with 402 participants comprising 49.8% males.
Overall prevalence of hookworm was 22.6% (91/402) (CI %-27.1%).

10. Health infrastructure and behaviours
Respondents from Atoifi reported washing hands before eating more often
More frequently wore footwear outside
Atoifi had safer defaecation practices
Related to prevalence of hookworm in the four villages

11. KWAI and NGONGOSILA ISLAND STH SURVEY (2014)

12. Results: Island villages
Participation rate was 70.7% (576/815)
STH prevalence 65.8% (379/576)
Roundworm most common
Hookworm prevalence as for Abitona, Na’au, Sifilo
Some whipworm

13. Each village is different!
Different prevalences of STH
Different issues about toilets
Physical challenges
Social challenges
Cultural challenges

14. One village at a time! Each village needs a different solution
Solutions must come from the community
Using mapping and qualitative methods to work in a participatory way looking for long term solutions

15. BECOMING NOTICED
Telling people about the research results is very important, but to be noticed the results have to be published in the health literature.

16. Which category do you find yourself in?
BLESSING and CURSE
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO LISTEN AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND AND CURSE TO THOSE WHO LOOK TO ME BUT THEIR MINDS ARE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Which category do you find yourself in?

17. THANK YOU EVERY ONE AND HAVE GOOD DAY