Table 4.
Univariate analysis of factors associated with ascariasis among Orang Asli children in Lipis, Pahang (n = 484)
| Variables |
Ascariasis |
OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. examined |
Infected |
|||
| n (%) | ||||
|
Age |
|
|
|
|
| School-age |
293 |
126 (43.0) |
1.9 (1.3, 2.8) |
0.002* |
| Pre-school-age |
191 |
55 (28.8) |
1 |
|
|
Gender |
|
|
|
|
| Male |
249 |
92 (36.9) |
1.0 (0.7, 1.4) |
0.834 |
| Female |
235 |
89 (37.9) |
1 |
|
|
Father’s educational levels | ||||
| Non educated (< 6 years) |
159 |
60 (37.7) |
1.0 (0.7, 1.5) |
0.973 |
| Educated (≥ 6 years) |
314 |
119 (37.9) |
1 |
|
|
Mother’s educational levels | ||||
| Non educated (< 6 years) |
233 |
88 (37.8) |
1.0 (0.7, 1.5) |
0.924 |
| Educated (≥ 6 years) |
249 |
93 (37.3) |
1 |
|
|
Father’s employment status | ||||
| Not working |
360 |
133 (36.9) |
1.2 (0.8, 1.8) |
0.472 |
| Working |
113 |
46 (40.7) |
1 |
|
|
Mother’s employment status | ||||
| Not working |
463 |
175 (37.8) |
0.8 (0.3, 2.1) |
0.583 |
| Working |
19 |
6 (31.6) |
1 |
|
|
Household monthly income | ||||
| < RM500 |
322 |
121 (37.6) |
1.0 (0.7, 1.5) |
0.908 |
| ≥ RM500 |
162 |
60 (37.0) |
1 |
|
|
Family size |
|
|
|
|
| ≥ 7 members (large) |
298 |
122 (40.9) |
1.5 (1.0, 2.2) |
0.041* |
| < 7 members |
186 |
59 (31.7) |
1 |
|
|
Presence of toilet in house | ||||
| No |
218 |
97 (44.5) |
1.7 (1.2, 2.5) |
0.003* |
| Yes |
266 |
84 (31.6) |
1 |
|
|
Presence of domestic animals | ||||
| Yes |
363 |
138 (38.0) |
1.1 (0.7, 1.7) |
0.625 |
| No |
121 |
43 (35.5) |
1 |
|
|
Source of drinking water | ||||
| Unsafe source (river, rain) |
236 |
103 (43.6) |
1.7 (1.2, 2.5) |
0.006* |
| Safe source (pipe) |
248 |
78 (31.5) |
1 |
|
|
Washing hands before eating | ||||
| No |
279 |
124 (44.4) |
2.1 (1.4, 3.1) |
<0.001* |
| Yes |
205 |
57 (27.8) |
1 |
|
|
Washing hands after defecation | ||||
| No |
191 |
97 (50.8) |
2.6 (1.8, 3.8) |
<0.001* |
| Yes |
293 |
84 (28.7) |
1 |
|
|
Indiscriminate defecation | ||||
| Yes |
323 |
127 (39.3) |
1.3 (0.9, 1.9) |
0.216 |
| No |
161 |
54 (33.5) |
1 |
|
|
Eating soil habit (Geophagy) | ||||
| Yes |
120 |
47 (39.2) |
1.1 (0.7, 1.7) |
0.644 |
| No |
364 |
134 (36.8) |
1 |
|
|
Cutting nails periodically | ||||
| No |
235 |
90 (38.3) |
1.1 (0.8, 1.6) |
0.691 |
| Yes |
249 |
91 (36.5) |
1 |
|
|
Wearing shoes when outside | ||||
| No |
191 |
79 (41.4) |
1.3 (0.9, 1.9) |
0.146 |
| Yes |
293 |
102 (34.8) |
1 |
|
|
Washing fruits before eating | ||||
| No |
268 |
102 (38.1) |
1.1 (0.7, 1.5) |
0.737 |
| Yes |
216 |
79 (36.6) |
1 |
|
|
Washing vegetables before eating | ||||
| No |
156 |
67 (42.9) |
1.4 (0.9, 2.1) |
0.082 |
| Yes |
328 |
114 (34.8) |
1 |
|
|
Boiling water before drinking | ||||
| No |
151 |
60 (39.7) |
1.2 (0.8, 1.7) |
0.474 |
| Yes | 333 | 121 (36.3) | 1 | |
RM, Malaysian Ringgit; (US$1 = RM3.15). OR, Odds ratio. CI, Confidence interval. * Significant association (P < 0.05).