Hubungan Perilaku Personal Hygiene dengan Kejadian Infeksi Parasit Usus pada Siswa-siswi Sekolah Dasar

Abstract

Introduction. Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant health problem in Indonesia, particularly among elementary school children. Poor personal hygiene, such as improper handwashing, consumption of contaminated food or beverages, and the use of unclean water, increases the risk of infection. Objective. To examine the relationship between personal hygiene behavior and the incidence of intestinal parasitic infections among students of SD Negeri 1, SD Negeri 17, and SD Negeri 20 Sipira, Onanrunggu District, Samosir Regency. Method. This study employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. Data were collected from 120 students using a personal hygiene questionnaire and stool sample examination at the Parasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara. Results and Discussion. Among the students, 56.7% had good personal hygiene, while 43.3% exhibited poor personal hygiene. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 41.7% (50 out of 120 students). The most frequently identified parasites were Blastocystis sp. (36.7%), followed by Giardia lamblia (23.9%) and Entamoeba coli (18.3%). Chi-Square analysis showed a significant association between personal hygiene and intestinal parasitic infections (p < 0.001). Students with poor personal hygiene had a higher infection rate (66%) compared to those with good personal hygiene (34%). Conclusion. Personal hygiene behavior is significantly associated with the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections in elementary school students. Hygiene education and improvements in environmental sanitation are strongly recommended to reduce the prevalence of parasitic infections.