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

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

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

Integrated control Worm Tablets Footwear / wash hands Use Formal Toilets

Community-wide treatment Worms killed, but return over time

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

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.

Atoifi STH team

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 0.95 18.6%-27.1%).

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

KWAI and NGONGOSILA ISLAND STH SURVEY (2014)

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

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

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

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. www.atoifiresearch.org.sb

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?

THANK YOU EVERY ONE AND HAVE GOOD DAY