02518nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260003400042653002400076653005700100653002100157653001700178653003600195653001300231653001500244653001300259653001800272100001900290700001400309700001400323700001800337700002800355700002200383700001100405700001700416245010500433520165300538022002502191       2023                            d  bOxford University Press (OUP)10aInfectious Diseases10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aGeneral Medicine10aParasitology10aintestinal parasitic infections10aMalaysia10aPrevalence10aRefugees10arisk-analysis1 aMohd Hanapi IR1 aBehnke JM1 aSahimin N1 aSaifulazmi NF1 aGolam Mohammad Khan ASJ1 aAbdul Mutalib RNS1 aLau YL1 aMohd Zain SN00aIntestinal parasitic infections and risk analysis among urban refugees in the Klang Valley, Malaysia3 a<p><strong>Background:</strong>&nbsp;Global studies show intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) have been introduced and spread with refugee inflows from low to high socio-economic countries. However, there is relatively limited information on the prevalence of infections among the community.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong> A 2-year cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for infections among urban refugees in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 418 faecal samples were collected and examined by microscopy.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong> Faecal screening revealed moderate levels (32.3%) of infections in the community. Three nematode (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm) and three protozoan species (Entamoeba, Giardia and Cryptosporidium) were recorded, with the highest prevalence being A. lumbricoides (20.6%) followed by T. trichiura (10.3%), while other infections were &lt;5%. Statistical analysis found that young males with less education were more likely to be infected with helminths. Additionally, living near waste disposal sites, the presence of stray animals, eating with bare hands, bare footedness, poor handwashing practices and no anthelmintic treatment constituted significant risk factors for helminth infections. Protozoan infections were linked to drinking tap water or from water dispensers and poor handwashing practices.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> These findings emphasize the importance of health education in addition to introduction of biannual anthelmintic treatment to promote community health and well-being.</p>
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