PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume 10, Issue 11, 2016
Migrant Workers in Malaysia: Current Implications of Sociodemographic and Environmental Characteristics in the Transmission of Intestinal Parasitic Infections (Article) (Open Access)
Sahimin N. ,
Lim Y.A.L. ,
Ariffin F. ,
Behnke J.M. ,
Lewis J.W. ,
Mohd Zain S.N.*
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a
Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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b
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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c
Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Teknologi Mara Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia
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d
School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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e
School of Biological Sciences, University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
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f
Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Abstract
A cross-sectional study of intestinal parasitic infections amongst migrant workers in Malaysia was conducted. A total of 388 workers were recruited from five sectors including manufacturing, construction, plantation, domestic and food services. The majority were recruited from Indonesia (n = 167, 43.3%), followed by Nepal (n = 81, 20.9%), Bangladesh (n = 70, 18%), India (n = 47, 12.1%) and Myanmar (n = 23, 5.9.2%). A total of four nematode species (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis and hookworms), one cestode (Hymenolepis nana) and three protozoan species (Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium spp.) were identified. High prevalence of infections with A. lumbricoides (43.3%) was recorded followed by hookworms (13.1%), E. histolytica/dispar (11.6%), Giardia sp. (10.8%), T. trichura (9.5%), Cryptosporodium spp. (3.1%), H. nana (1.8%) and E. vermicularis (0.5%). Infections were significantly influenced by socio-demographic (nationality), and environmental characteristics (length of working years in the country, employment sector and educational level). Up to 84.0% of migrant workers from Nepal and 83.0% from India were infected with intestinal parasites, with the ascarid nematode A. lumbricoides occurring in 72.8% of the Nepalese and 68.1% of the Indian population. In addition, workers with an employment history of less than a year or newly arrived in Malaysia were most likely to show high levels of infection as prevalence of workers infected with A. lumbricoides was reduced from 58.2% to 35.4% following a year’s residence. These findings suggest that improvement is warranted in public health and should include mandatory medical screening upon entry into the country. © 2016 Sahimin et al.
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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85007318280&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pntd.0005110&partnerID=40&md5=695d448b9ead4d14843bd00ba070eda3
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005110
ISSN: 19352727
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English