{"paper_id":"2d0bc3fc-46a0-45f1-9606-c67379cdf0da","body_text":"Linking Wastewater Exposure to Parasitic Infection Prevalence Among Riverside Households in Angeles City, Philippines | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Linking Wastewater Exposure to Parasitic Infection Prevalence Among Riverside Households in Angeles City, Philippines Carl Nathan S. Suazon, Kennedy N. Yutuc, Angel B. Delos Santos, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8846501/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Parasitic infections, particularly helminthiasis, remain a significant public health concern in communities with poor sanitation and high wastewater exposure. This study investigated the relationship between wastewater management practices and the prevalence of parasitic infections among residents along the Abacan River in Angeles City, Pampanga, located in Central Luzon, Philippines. Methods A descriptive correlational design was employed, involving surveys from 113 households and fecal analysis of 120 children aged 2–14 years. Results Results showed a 47.5% prevalence rate, with Ascaris lumbricoides as the most common helminth. Regression analysis identified employment status, family size, soap use, river activity, deworming history, and treatment status as predictors. Notably, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that, among all variables, participation in river activities was the only statistically significant factor ( P < .001), indicating an elevated risk of infection. Conclusion These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health interventions and improved wastewater management to reduce infection rates in high-risk populations. The study concludes that inadequate wastewater management practices, along with various interconnected risk factors, significantly contribute to elevated parasitic infection rates among vulnerable populations. Helminthiasis Parasitic infection Philippine public health River health risks Sanitation practices School-age parasitism Wastewater exposure Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 1 Introduction In a global context, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections affect approximately 1.5 billion people, or 24% of the population, primarily in impoverished communities with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. The highest incidence occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, China, South America, and Asia [ 1 ]. In the Philippines, STH infections and amoebiasis remain major public health threats, with prevalence ranging from 33.8% to 75.9% [ 2 ]. With 16 of the country’s 17 regions endemic to STHs and rates of 50% or higher, 50–90% of children aged 2–14 years are affected [ 3 ]. In Pampanga, prevalence reaches 48.3% of infections in Central Luzon [ 4 ], with local studies reporting a 100% prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura among the Badjao community in Angeles City [ 5 ] and 71.3% prevalence among the Aeta community in Porac [ 6 ]. These infections place a significant burden on preschool and school-aged children, who are vulnerable due to environmental exposure, poor hygiene, and developing immune systems [ 7 ]. The Philippines suffers from severe water pollution due to poor wastewater management, with limited sewer coverage and outdated systems contributing to significant health risks from parasitic infections. Wastewater management is the process of collecting, treating, and safely disposing of domestic wastewater, focusing on the water brought by households and communities to minimize environmental harm [ 8 ]. Despite existing laws like the Clean Water Act, weak enforcement has worsened the problem. Low-cost solutions such as septic tank maintenance, constructed wetlands, and decentralized treatment systems (DEWATS) can help reduce contamination and protect public health [ 9 ]. Parasitic intestinal infections caused by helminths and protozoa pose a significant public health burden due to interconnected risk factors that span multiple domains. Socioeconomically disadvantaged populations face elevated risks, with overcrowded households (8 + members) showing 64.9% infection rates compared to 25% in smaller families, while lower parental education increases exposure [ 10 ]. Environmental contamination through untreated wastewater, flooding, and contaminated water sources allows pathogens like Giardia and Cryptosporidium to survive 6–12 months, with communities facing multiple environmental problems that can lead to infection rates of 76.92% [ 11 , 12 ]. Behavioral factors significantly influence transmission, where protective practices, such as handwashing, nail trimming, and proper footwear use, reduce the risk, while open defecation and recreational water exposure increase it [ 13 ]. Health-related vulnerabilities compound the problem through malnutrition-induced immunosuppression affecting 22.6% of infected children [ 14 ] and inadequate healthcare access resulting in low deworming coverage (36.7%) with only 2.5% of symptomatic children receiving treatment [ 15 ]. While these studies demonstrate the complex interplay of various factors driving parasitic infections, further research remains essential to identify additional unknown contributing factors and fully understand transmission pathways in endemic communities [ 16 ]. Similar risks exist in the Abacan Bridge area of Angeles City, where frequent exposure to untreated wastewater and inadequate waste management practices may pose serious public health threats, particularly to nearby households. General public and domestic waste are disposed of directly into the river (river dumping), causing pollution, deteriorating water quality, and increasing health risks for surrounding communities. Such contamination elevates the likelihood of contracting waterborne parasitic infections that disproportionately affect children [ 17 ]. However, limited data on pathogen presence and infection rates in this community hinder the development of evidence-based prevention and control strategies. Socio-demographic characteristics, along with socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related factors, are believed to influence disease prevalence. This study aimed to examine the associations between wastewater-related risk factors and parasitic infections among children aged 2–14 years in the Abacan Bridge area through descriptive analysis of prevalence patterns and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors while accounting for socio-demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related confounders. 2 Methods 2.1 Study Design and Locale A descriptive correlational study was conducted to investigate the potential association between wastewater management practices of selected households residing near the Abacan Bridge in Angeles City, Pampanga, located in Central Luzon, Philippines, and the prevalence of parasitic infections among children. The Abacan River, situated at a latitude of 15° 9’ 8” N and a longitude of 120° 38’ 59” E, is a significant tributary of the Pasac River that flows through Angeles City, one of the largest urban areas in the Pampanga River basin that has undergone urbanization in the past decades [ 17 ]. The study was conducted at Brgy. Malabanias, Angeles City, specifically focusing on three sitios : Ipil, Cuayan, and Abacan Riverside, all situated near the Abacan River (Fig. 1 ). Living in proximity to rivers in poor socioeconomic regions has been linked to heightened exposure to parasitic illnesses [ 13 ]. Such were selected since their residents remain in the vicinity of the river despite relocation programs in other areas, and still lack established water supplies and toilet facilities. 2.2 Study Participants and Sampling The study participants primarily consisted of children aged 2–14 years old and their parents or guardians from households living near the Abacan River. All participating children underwent routine fecalysis, given their frequent contact with contaminated environments and possible susceptibility to parasitic infections [ 18 ]. The sample size was determined using the Raosoft calculator [ 19 ] based on 1,061 households comprising 4,350 people across the three sitios . Based on standard statistical parameters, a minimum of 113 households was required to ensure reliable results. Quota sampling was employed to enhance representativeness while maintaining practical feasibility. Respondents must have resided for a minimum of six months near the Abacan River with their parents or guardians, and have the ability to read and write. Participants aged 2–14 years who took antibacterial, antidiarrheal, and anthelmintic medications during data collection were excluded, as these medications may interfere with parasite identification. 2.3 Research Instruments Survey Tool. The survey tool consisted of questions adapted from prior studies to meet the research objectives [ 18 , 20 , 21 ]. It comprised 30 questions, divided into two sections: a socio-demographic profile (6 questions) and risk factors (24 questions, covering socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related factors). For Likert-scale questions, options were “Always”, “Sometimes”, and “Not at all” with weighted averages categorized as 1.00-1.66 (Always), 1.67–2.33 (Sometimes), and 2.34-3.00 (Not at all). The survey tool was validated by a statistician and two public health professionals, translated into Filipino, and pilot-tested with 11 households, requiring approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. Fecal Analysis. Stool examination was used to provide essential data on the prevalence of parasitic infections by collecting one-time stool samples from children [ 16 ], which were processed at the diagnostic center using microscopic analysis to detect and identify parasitic organisms and their prevalence within the sample population. 2.4 Data Collection Before conducting the study, comprehensive permission was obtained from the Malabanias Barangay Hall and the Ethics Research Committee of Angeles University Foundation. All participating households received informed consent forms in Filipino and age-appropriate assents—emphasizing voluntary participation and the right to withdraw from the study. The study employed a two-fold approach: parents or guardians of children aged 2–14 years were surveyed regarding household practices and various risk factors, while their children underwent fecalysis to assess the potential impacts of wastewater exposure. Sterile containers were provided to each household, along with clear instructions for parents to help their children collect the samples. Specimens were transported to FASTMED Diagnostics in cooler boxes with ice packs to maintain specimen viability. Laboratory processing utilized direct fecal smear techniques for microscopic examination, with results reported as positive when eggs, ova, cysts, or trophozoites were observed, and negative when no parasitic forms were detected. 2.5 Data Analysis Descriptive Statistics. All data collected were entered into IBM SPSS Statistics version 30 for statistical testing. Descriptive statistics summarized the study population's characteristics and the prevalence of parasitic infections, using frequencies and percentages to analyze the distribution of infections across demographic groups and to assess the prevalence of various risk factors classified into socioeconomic, environmental, and health categories. For behavioral variables, weighted means were calculated to reflect average behavioral patterns associated with parasitic infection risk. Regression Analysis. Chi-square tests of independence were used to analyze the association between risk factors and the occurrence of parasitic infections, with a significance threshold of P < .05. Univariate logistic regression was conducted, with an inclusion criterion of P < .25, to identify possible predictors and filter candidate variables. Variables meeting this criterion were incorporated into a multivariate analysis to account for confounding factors and identify independent risk factors linked to parasitic infection, with statistical significance set at P < .05. The multivariate approach allowed for consideration of multiple factors simultaneously, enabling the differentiation of the true effects of each risk factor from the influences of others. 3 Results 3.1 Prevalence of Parasitic Infections Among Children in the Abacan Bridge Of the 120 children aged 2–14 years old examined in the Abacan Bridge area, 57 tested positive for parasitic infections, representing an overall infection rate of 47.5%. Helminthic infections accounted for the majority of the disease burden, with Ascaris lumbricoides (39.55%) as the primary parasitic pathogen, whereas protozoal infections were considerably less common (Fig. 2 ). When comparing infection rates by sex, Table 1 shows that male children had higher infection rates than females (33.3% vs. 14.2%), with protozoal infections detected exclusively in males. Age-stratified analysis showed the highest burden in children aged 6–10 years (30%), followed by those ≤ 5 years (13.3%), while the 11–14 years group had the lowest prevalence (4.2%). Ascaris lumbricoides was most common in the 6–10 years group (25%), and Trichuris trichiura occurred only in the two youngest age groups. Table 1 Overall Prevalence and Distribution of Parasitic Infections Among Children by Sex and Age Group No. of infected children by sex No. of infected children by age group Parasite species Male (%) Female (%) ≤ 5 (%) 6–10 (%) 11–14 (%) Helminths A. lumbricoides T. trichiura 34 (27.9) 3 (2.1) 15 (11.65) 4 (2.55) 13 (10.4) 2 (1.2) 31 (25) 5 (3.4) 5 (4.2) 0 (0) Protozoa E. coli G. lamblia 1 (0.8) 3 (2.5) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (1.7) 1 (0.8) 1 (0.8) 0 (0) 0 (0) No infection Single infection Double infection a Overall infection 44 (36.7) 39 (32.5) 1 (0.8) 40 (33.3) 19 (15.8) 15 (12.5) 2 (1.7) 17 (14.2) 25 (20.8) 15 (12.5) 1 (0.8) 16 (13.3) 33 (27.5) 34 (28.3) 2 (1.7) 36 (30) 5 (4.2) 5 (4.2) 0 (0) 5 (4.2) a Mixed infection of A. lumbricoides + T. trichiura 3.2 Socio-Demographic Profile of Parents or Guardians The majority of respondents were mothers (69.2%), aged 31–40 (37.5%), and had a high school education (58.3%). Employment status indicated that the majority were unemployed (56.6%). Additionally, most children fell within the 6–10 years age group (57.5%). Among these variables, only employment status was significantly associated with parasitic infection ( P = .008*). Specifically, children from households with unemployed parents had the highest infection rate (55.9%), compared to those from families with employed parents (48.5%) and self-employed parents (15.8%) (Table 2 ). Table 2 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents Variables Parasitic Infection p -value Positive No. (%) Negative No. (%) Total No. (%) Role in the Family Mother Father Grandmother Aunt Uncle Eldest Sibling 37 (44.6) 11 (55) 4 (40) 2 (50) 1 (100) 2 (100) 46 (55.4) 9 (45) 6 (60) 2 (50) 0 (0) 0 (0) 83 (69.2) 20 (16.7) 10 (8.3) 4 (3.3) 1 (0.8) 2 (1.7) .509 Age of Respondent 11–20 years old 21–30 years old 31–40 years old 41–50 years old 51–60 years old 2 (25) 18 (43.9) 24 (53.3) 6 (46.2) 7 (53.8) 6 (75) 23 (56.1) 21 (46.7) 7 (53.8) 6 (46.2) 8 (6.7) 41 (34.2) 45 (37.5) 13 (10.8) 13 (10.8) .614 Educational Attainment None Elementary High school College 1 (33.3) 24 (55.8) 30 (42.9) 2 (50) 2 (66.7) 19 (44.2) 40 (57.1) 2 (50) 3 (2.5) 43 (35.8) 70 (58.3) 4 (3.3) .562 Employment Status Employed Self-employed Unemployed 16 (48.5) 3 (15.8) 38 (55.9) 17 (51.5) 16 (84.2) 30 (44.1) 33 (27.5) 19 (15.8) 68 (56.6) .008* Age of Child (in years) ≤ 5 6–10 11–14 16 (39) 36 (52.2) 5 (50) 25 (61) 33 (47.8) 5 (50) 41 (34.2) 69 (57.5) 10 (8.3) .404 * P < .05 3.3 Risk Factors Related to Wastewater Management Practices This section examines the socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related factors that contribute to parasitic infections. A larger family size was significantly associated with higher infection rates ( P = .021*), with 64% in households with more than eight members compared to 25% in households with 1–3 members. Although the monthly income was not statistically significant ( P = .959), the majority of infected children still came from families with an income of less than ₱10,000. Regarding sanitation, sharing toilet facilities significantly increased the risk of infection ( P = .032*). Children who shared toilets had higher infection rates (68.2%) compared to those with private facilities (42.9%), highlighting the risk of transmission in shared sanitation settings. Additionally, local system issues, such as exposure to poor drainage, polluted water, and uncollected garbage, were strongly linked to infection ( P < .001*), with 76.9% of children exposed to multiple issues testing positive. Health-related factors revealed that only 23.3% of children recalled prior infection, likely underestimating prevalence due to a lack of formal diagnosis, as reflected by the 64.2% with no prior infections and 12.5% who were unsure. Deworming coverage was low, at 36.7%. Among symptomatic children, only 2.5% received deworming medication, while many relied on home remedies (19.2%), over-the-counter drugs (9.2%), or received no treatment (8.3%). The absence of recent deworming significantly increased infection rates (61.1% vs. 22.7%), and untreated children had the highest prevalence (90% past, 88.5% current). Table 3 presents the behavioral factors of the children, assessed using a 3-point Likert scale, which revealed high adherence to hygiene practices, including soap use (M = 1.60), nail trimming (M = 1.56), and hand washing (M = 1.50). In contrast, participation in Abacan River activities (M = 2.09) was rated as “Sometimes,” indicating greater environmental exposure. At the same time, consistent soap use reduced infection rates to 9.8%. Similarly, regular nail trimming and hand washing lowered infection rates to 31.5% and 23.3%, respectively. Most notably, avoiding river activities was the strongest protective factor, with nonparticipants showing an infection rate of only 7.5%. River activities pose a high risk for parasitic infections. Table 3 Children’s Behavioral Risk Factors Associated with Parasitic Infections Variables Parasitic Infection Mean (Interpretation) P value Positive (%) Negative (%) Total (%) Handwashing Habit Always (≥ 6 times/day) Sometimes (1–5 times/day) Not at all (0 times/day) 14 (23.3) 43 (71.7) 0 (0) 46 (76.7) 17 (28.3) 0 (0) 60 (50) 60 (50) 0 (0) 1.50 (Always) < .001* Use of Soap Always (≥ 6 times/day) Sometimes (1–5 times/day) Not at all (0 times/day) 5 (9.8) 49 (40.8) 3 (100) 46 (90.2) 17 (14.2) 0 (0) 51 (42.5) 66 (55) 3 (2.5) 1.60 (Always) < .001* Trimming of Nails Always (1 time/week) Sometimes (When long enough) Not at all (Never) 17 (31.5) 39 (60) 1 (100) 37 (68.5) 26 (40) 0 (0) 54 (45) 65 (54.2) 1 (0.8) 1.56 (Always) .005* Slipper Wearing Habit Always (≥ 4 times/week) Sometimes (1 time/week) Not at all (Never) 32 (36.8) 22 (73.3) 1 (100) 55 (63.2) 8 (26.7) 0 (0) 87 (72.5) 30 (25) 3 (2.5) 1.30 (Always) < .001* Weekly Bathing Always (Everyday) Sometimes (3 times/week) Not at all (Never) 39 (41.9) 17 (68) 1 (50) 54 (58.1) 8 (32) 1 (50) 93 (77.5) 25 (20.8) 2 (1.7) 1.24 (Always) .068 Abacan River Activity Always (Everyday) Sometimes (2–3 times/week) Not at all (Never) 38 (90.5) 15 (60) 4 (7.5) 4 (9.5) 10 (40) 49 (92.5) 42 (35) 25 (20.8) 53 (44.2) 2.09 (Sometimes) < .001* * P < .05 3.4 Univariate and Multivariate Analysis of Potential Risk Factors Associated with Parasitic Infections Table 4 presents both crude odds ratios (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for potential risk factors associated with parasitic infection. In the univariate binary logistic regression analysis, which presents the COR without adjusting for other variables, several factors were found to be significantly associated with parasitic infection. These included employment status (COR = 0.743; 95% CI [0.323, 1.710]; P = .018**), smaller family size (1–3 members with a COR of 0.181, and 4–7 members with a COR of 0.396, both at P = .026**), soap use during handwashing (COR = 0; P = .118*), recent deworming (COR = 0.054; 95% CI [0.002, 1.229]; P = 0.004**), and engagement in activities in the Abacan River (COR = 45.733; 95% CI [8.712, 240.060]; P < .001**). Table 4 Crude and Adjusted Odds Ratios for Risk Factors Associated with Parasitic Infections: Univariate and Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis Parasitic Infection Variables Univariate Analysis Multivariate Analysis a COR [95% CI] P value AOR [95% CI] P value Employment status Employed Self-employed Unemployed 0.743 [0.323, 1.710] 0.148 [0.039, 0.556] 1 .018** 1.232 [0.160, 9.495] 0.063 [0.004, 0.968] 1 .115 Family Size 1–3 4–7 Above 8 0.181 [0.041, 0.786] 0.396 [0.174, 0.903] 1 .026** 0.058 [0.001, 2.336] 0.139 [0.016, 1.218] 1 .153 Sharing of Facility With others None 1.908 [0.625, 5.826] 1 .257 — — Local System Issues Poor Drainage Uncollected Garbage Polluted Water Air pollution More than one applicable None 0104 [0.033, 0.327] 0.544 [0.122, 2.435] 0.216 [0.075, 0.621] 0.091 [0.009, 0.936] - 1 < .001** 1.919 [0.152, 24.181] 0.303 [0.019, 4.835] 0.251 [0, 2275.818] 0.721 [0.021, 24.686] — 1 .692 Handwashing Habit Always (≥ 6 times/day) Sometimes (1–5 times/day) 0.526 [0.104, 2.667] 1 .438 — — Use of Soap Always (≥ 6 times/day) Sometimes (1–5 times/day) Not at all (0 times/day) 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 1 .118* 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 1 .102 Trimming of Nails Always (1 time/week) Sometimes (When long enough) Not at all (Never) 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 1 .978 — — Slipper Wearing Habit Always (≥ 4 times/week) Sometimes (1 time/week) Not at all (Never) 86946 [0, -] 225 [0, -] 1 .852 — — Abacan River Activity Always (Everyday) Sometimes (2–3 times/week) Not at all (Never) 45.733 [8.712, 240.060] 11.089 [2.514, 48.915] 1 < .001** 176.284 [14.272, 2177.427] 40.895 [4.297, 389.182] 1 < .001** Recent Deworming Yes No Unsure/Don’t Remember 0.054 [0.002, 1.229] 0.396 [0.020, 7.763] 1 .004** 0.120 [0.001, 12.063] 0.259 [0.003, 22.410] 1 .565 Past Symptoms Abdominal pain Diarrhea Weight loss Fatigue Rashes Anal itching Worms coming out Fever Multiple symptoms Not applicable 0.121 [0.014, 1.058] 0.267 [0.046, 1.538] - [0, -] - [0, -] 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 0.384 [0.10, 15.023] 0 [0, -] 0.198 [0.028, 1.410] 1 .678 — — Past Treatment Visited a physician Prescription medicine OTC medication Home remedies Deworming No treatment sought Not applicable 0.888 [0.120, 6.574] 1.259 [0.087, 18.286] 0.212 [0.017, 2.653] 0.814 [0.074, 8.991] 4.303 [0.164, 112.86] 2.150 [0.088, 52.63] 1 .688 — — Current Symptoms Abdominal pain Diarrhea Loss of Appetite Rashes Cough and Colds Multiple symptoms Not applicable 0.986 [0.065, 14.925] 3.127 [0.102, 95.924] 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 1.920 [0.057, 64.971] 1 .984 — — Current Treatment Visited a physician Prescription medicine OTC medication Home remedies No treatment sought Not applicable 0.804 [0.012, 54.358] 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 8.074 [0.118, 551.308] 34.352 [0.862, 1368.531] 1 .172* 0.354 [0.020, 6.271] 0 [0, -] 0 [0, -] 0.450 [0, 614.775] 2.793 [0.250, 31.229] 1 .915 AOR adjusted odds ratio, CI confidence interval, COR crude odds ratio, OTC over-the-counter a Adjusted model between parasitic infection and employment status, family size, local system issues, use of soap, Abacan River activity, recent deworming, and current treatment * P < .25; ** P < .05; 1, reference. -, infinite Altogether, when these variables were entered into a multivariate binary logistic regression model to account for potential confounding, only Abacan River activity remained statistically significant at the .05 level ( P < .001 **). After adjusting for other factors, individuals engaging in activities in the Abacan River had a substantially higher risk of parasitic infection, independent of other variables. 4 Discussion The study found a high prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides infection among children, consistent with reports from areas with poor sanitation [ 22 ]. This suggests that inadequate sanitation infrastructure, poor hygiene, and unclean water create conditions that support parasite transmission. Furthermore, boys were more frequently infected, likely due to both biological and behavioral factors [ 23 ]. The highest burden was seen in children aged 6–10, who are more exposed to contaminated environments and still developing hygiene habits. In contrast, older children had lower rates due to better awareness and improved immunity [ 24 ]. In the study, most respondents were mothers, reflecting their central role in childcare and household sanitation [ 11 , 25 ]. Larger family sizes were significantly associated with infection, as overcrowding and shared sanitation increased transmission risk [ 11 , 26 ]. Although many households had piped water and durable floors, community-level infrastructure failures undermine household-level water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts [ 11 , 12 ]. Deworming reduced the risk of infection, but coverage remained low (36.7%), and very few symptomatic children received treatment; consequently, children who had not been recently dewormed had higher odds of infection [ 1 , 15 ]. Many relied on home remedies or avoided professional care, showing cultural, economic, and access barriers [ 27 ]. Symptom clustering suggested heavier parasite loads, though single symptoms were unreliable indicators. Moreover, underreporting of infections in the study was likely due to poor access to healthcare and limited awareness [ 1 , 14 ]. Behaviorally, several factors were protective against parasitic infections in children, including handwashing with soap ( P < .001), weekly nail trimming ( P = .005), and wearing slippers ( P < .001), underscoring the role of hygiene in preventing fecal-oral transmission [ 28 ]. In contrast, frequent exposure to the Abacan River was the most substantial risk factor ( P < .001*), as contaminated water served as a major route of infection, undermining these protective practices [ 28 , 29 ]. Given that children are highly impressionable and tend to adopt observed behaviors, integrating early hygiene education alongside environmental interventions is essential for establishing lifelong healthy habits [ 7 , 16 ]. Multivariate analysis showed that Abacan River activities independently increased parasitic infection risk in presence of other confounding factors, with daily participants having about 176-fold higher odds (AOR = 176.284; 95% CI [14.272, 2177.427]) and those engaging 2–3 times weekly also at markedly elevated risk (AOR = 40.895; 95% CI [4.297, 389.182] compared to non-participants. The findings align with existing evidence on waterborne parasitic diseases. The Abacan River, previously identified as “the most problematic receiving water” due to untreated wastewater discharges, elevated concentrations of pollutants such as ammonia and phosphates, and extensive point- and non-point source contamination, emerged as the primary driver of infection. In contrast, factors such as socioeconomic status, hygiene practices, and deworming were not significant in the multivariate analysis. These results highlight the predominance of behavioral over socioeconomic factors, suggesting that direct water-related exposure pathways override traditional poverty-related risks in this river-proximate setting [ 3 , 17 , 30 ]. 5 Conclusion This study confirmed a high prevalence of parasitic infections among children aged 2–14 years in the Abacan Bridge area, with Ascaris lumbricoides as the most common parasite. Behavioral risk factors were the strongest predictors of infection, and multivariate analysis identified participation in river activities as the single most significant determinant of infection. These findings underscore the need for immediate public health measures, including enhanced wastewater management, safe water access, and improved sanitation infrastructure, to mitigate risks of contamination. Health promotion campaigns should prioritize participatory and community-based approaches to strengthen WASH practices, complemented by regular deworming programs for populations at risk. For future research, stratifying risk factors by age group would clarify age-related susceptibility and exposure. Employing more sensitive diagnostic techniques, such as the Kato-Katz method, and adopting longitudinal designs would enable researchers to observe trends and changes in parasitic infections over time. Declarations Acknowledgement The researchers would like to express their gratitude to the Barangay officials of Malabanias for their coordination and to the FASTMED Diagnostics Laboratory staff for their technical assistance in specimen processing. Above all, heartfelt thanks are extended to the parents, guardians, and children who willingly participated in this study, as their time and cooperation made this research possible. Author Contributions KNY and MAIT conceptualized the research idea, while CNSS, ABDS, JIM, SMP, DGCM, HADR, and ATN developed the objectives. CNSS conducted the statistical analysis with support from the other authors, and ATN provided methodological oversight. All authors contributed to the study design, data collection, manuscript drafting, and critical revisions, and approved the final version, taking complete accountability for its accuracy and integrity. Funding The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Data Availability All data from this article can be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Declarations Ethical Considerations The study protocol was approved by the Angeles University Foundation - Ethics Research Committee (AUF-ERC), which holds a level 2 accreditation from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). An ethics certificate was issued on March 17, 2025, under ERC Code 2025-CAMP-Student-013. This certificate confirms that the study complied with the guidelines and standards set by PHREB, ensuring the welfare of both parents or guardians and their children. Consent to Participate Written informed consent containing comprehensive information about the study’s purpose, potential risks, inconveniences, benefits, and data management procedures was provided to the parents or guardians of each household, and their signature was obtained to indicate their agreement to participate in the study. The children (6-10 years old) who underwent fecalysis were still minors and could not provide informed consent; therefore, parental assent was obtained as well. Participation was entirely voluntary, with participants retaining the right to withdraw at any time without penalty or consequence. Researchers were committed to informing participants of any procedural changes. Consent for Publication Not applicable. Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. References World Health Organization. Soil-transmitted helminth infections. World Health Organization. January 18. 2023. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections Mationg MLS, Williams GM, Tallo VL et al. Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren. Taylan Ozkan A, ed. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(12):e0010008. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008 Ross AG, Papier K, Luceres-Catubig R, Chau TN, Inobaya MT, Ng SK, Poverty. Dietary Intake, Intestinal Parasites, and Nutritional Status among School-Age Children in the Rural Philippines. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2017;2(4):49. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed2040049 . Tangcalagan D, Daga C, Tan A, et al. The 2013–2015 Nationwide Prevalence Survey of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) and Schistosomiasis among School-Age Children in Public Schools in the Philippines. Pediatr Infect Dis Soc Philipp J. 2022;23(1):75–96. https://doi.org/10.56964/pidspj20222301010 . Janapin PT. Determination of the prevalence of parasitic triad infection among the Badjaos of Angeles City. International Conference on Zoology, Microbiology & Medical Parasitology. October 30-November 01, 2017. Chicago, USA. https://www.alliedacademies.org/conference-abstracts-files/determination-of-the-prevalence-of-parasitic-triad-infection.pdf De Guia JJR, Flores MJC. Prevalence of Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis among Aetas in Brgy. Villa Maria, Porac, Pampanga. In: Knowledge Building towards Industry 4.0. 2019. https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-congress-proceedings/2019/fnh-I-003.pdf Belizario VY, Totañes FIG, De Leon WU, Ciro RNT, Lumampao YF. Sentinel Surveillance of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in Preschool-Aged and School-Aged Children in Selected Local Government Units in the Philippines: Follow-up Assessment. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2015;27(2):NP1604–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539513483825 . Villarín MC, Merel S. Paradigm shifts and current challenges in wastewater management. J Hazard Mater. 2020;390:122139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122139 . United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), United Nations Centre for Human Settlement (UN-Habitat). Policy guidance manual on wastewater management: with a special emphasis on decentralized wastewater treatment systems. United Nations ESCAP July 16, 2015. https://www.unescap.org/resources/policy-guidance-manual-wastewater-management Drechsel P, Qadir M, Wichelns D, editors. Wastewater: Economic Asset in an Urbanizing World. Springer Netherlands; 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9545-6 . Labana RV, Borda MCNM, Campo RTA, Ocampo MAV. The Interplay Between Household Risk Perception of Parasitic Infections and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Practices: Evidence From an Urban Poor Community in the Philippines. Cureus Published online April. 2024;3. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.57532 . Blom K. Drainage systems, an occluded source of sanitation related outbreaks. Arch Public Health. 2015;73(1):8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-014-0056-6 . Wade TJ, Arnold BF, Schiff K et al. Health risks to children from exposure to fecally-contaminated recreational water. Zhou Z, ed. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(4):e0266749. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266749 Mostafi J, Bassir DO, Oulkheir S, Oirdi HE, Kharrim KE, Belghyti D. Study of Correlation Between Intestinal Parasitism and the Nutritional Status of Children at the Moulay Abdellah Hospital of Sale (MOROCCO). In: Ben Ahmed M, Boudhir AA, El Meouche R, Karaș İR, eds. Innovations in Smart Cities Applications Volume 7. Vol 906. Springer Nature Switzerland; 2024:353–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53824-7_32 Belay DG, Kibret AA, Diress M, et al. Deworming among preschool age children in sub-Saharan Africa: pooled prevalence and multi-level analysis. Trop Med Health. 2022;50(1):74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-022-00465-w . Abossie A, Seid M. Assessment of the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and associated risk factors among primary school children in Chencha town, Southern Ethiopia. BMC Public Health. 2014;14(1):166. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-166 . National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Japan International Cooperation Agency. The Study on Integrated Water Resources Management for Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development in The Pampanga River Basin. National Water Resources Board (NWRB); 2011. https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12018974_01.pdf . Soriano GP, Aquino MGB. Prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminths and Associate Transmission Factors among School Children in a Selected Barangay in Trece Martires City, Cavite. Int J Med Sci Technol IJMST ISSN. 2019;9(5):0974–5343. 33–38. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3388730 . Sample Size Calculator by. Raosoft, Inc. Raosoft. http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization. Core Questions on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Household Surveys: 2018 Update. JMP for Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene; 2018. https://washdata.org/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2019-03/JMP-2018-core-questions-for-household-surveys.pdf Mutyama WS. Analysis of Domestic Wastewater Management Systems in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar Es Salaam City. masters. The Open University of Tanzania; 2017. http://repository.out.ac.tz/2191/ . Soares Magalhães RJ, Salamat MS, Leonardo L et al. Mapping the Risk of Soil-Transmitted Helminthic Infections in the Philippines. Knopp S, ed. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9(9):e0003915. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003915 Klein SL, Flanagan KL. Sex differences in immune responses. Nat Rev Immunol. 2016;16(10):626–38. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri.2016.90 . Hamad AA, Mauti GO. Determination of the Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides in Children under the Age of Five Years Attending at Kongowe Health Centre, Kibaha District, Pwani Region. Magalhães LG. ed J Parasitol Res. 2024;2024:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/1932633 . Bitew BD, Gete YK, Biks GA, Adafrie TT. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Mothers/Caregivers on Household Water Treatment Methods in Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017;97(3):914–22. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.16-0860 . Forson AO, Arthur I, Ayeh-Kumi PF. The role of family size, employment and education of parents in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in school children in Accra. Kumar S, ed. PLOS ONE. 2018;13(2):e0192303. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192303 Lorenzo PJ, Berte CJ, Cortel DK, et al. A vicious cycle of helminth infections: Current sanitation status and practices that led to continued STH transmission in rural communities in the Philippines. Preprint posted online September. 2021;15. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-877501/v1 . Paige SB, Friant S, Clech L, et al. Combining Footwear with Public Health Iconography to Prevent Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections. Am Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2017;96(1):205–13. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0910 . Hassanein F, Masoud IM, Fekry MM, et al. Environmental health aspects and microbial infections of the recreational water: Microbial Infections and Swimming pools. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):302. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15183-z . Arbotante C, Bandao J, Leon AD et al. Water Quality in Pampanga River Along Barangay Buas in Candaba, Pampanga. DLSU Research Congress 2015. March 2–4, 2015. Manila, PH. https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-congress-proceedings/2015/SEE/036-SEE_Janairo_ZN.pdf Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-8846501\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":604555676,\"identity\":\"243872ad-a392-462f-bf9d-66e66523717c\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Carl Nathan S. 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Rivera\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Angeles University Foundation\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Hitomi\",\"middleName\":\"Alexia D.\",\"lastName\":\"Rivera\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":604555698,\"identity\":\"7ffbe00f-3500-4afe-a70e-b0de6a3a45c5\",\"order_by\":8,\"name\":\"Annalyn T. Navarro\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Angeles University Foundation\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Annalyn\",\"middleName\":\"T.\",\"lastName\":\"Navarro\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2026-02-11 03:08:30\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8846501/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8846501/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":104582102,\"identity\":\"8f822c6f-7a61-47ca-9777-3f065f167d1f\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-03-13 15:11:54\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"Figure 1\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":1818981,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eStudy Area Map of Barangay Malabanias showing Sitios Ipil (Blue), Cuayan (Yellow), and Abacan (Orange) Riverside\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"floatimage1.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8846501/v1/24537c09b067490b20a2208f.png\"},{\"id\":104582300,\"identity\":\"700d7be4-1507-4fe8-81d9-5b05ce5e3d59\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-03-13 15:12:17\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":2,\"title\":\"Figure 2\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":567694,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003ePrevalence of Parasitic Infections Among Children in the Abacan Bridge: Overall Frequency and Species-Specific Breakdown (N = 120)\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"floatimage2.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8846501/v1/8e2fc23b3662312c61b7dbde.png\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Linking Wastewater Exposure to Parasitic Infection Prevalence Among Riverside Households in Angeles City, Philippines\",\"fulltext\":[{\"header\":\"1 Introduction\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eIn a global context, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections affect approximately 1.5\\u0026nbsp;billion people, or 24% of the population, primarily in impoverished communities with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. The highest incidence occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, China, South America, and Asia [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR1\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e]. In the Philippines, STH infections and amoebiasis remain major public health threats, with prevalence ranging from 33.8% to 75.9% [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR2\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e]. With 16 of the country\\u0026rsquo;s 17 regions endemic to STHs and rates of 50% or higher, 50\\u0026ndash;90% of children aged 2\\u0026ndash;14 years are affected [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR3\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e]. In Pampanga, prevalence reaches 48.3% of infections in Central Luzon [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR4\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e], with local studies reporting a 100% prevalence of \\u003cem\\u003eAscaris lumbricoides\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eTrichuris trichiura\\u003c/em\\u003e among the Badjao community in Angeles City [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR5\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e5\\u003c/span\\u003e] and 71.3% prevalence among the Aeta community in Porac [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR6\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e6\\u003c/span\\u003e]. These infections place a significant burden on preschool and school-aged children, who are vulnerable due to environmental exposure, poor hygiene, and developing immune systems [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR7\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e7\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe Philippines suffers from severe water pollution due to poor wastewater management, with limited sewer coverage and outdated systems contributing to significant health risks from parasitic infections. Wastewater management is the process of collecting, treating, and safely disposing of domestic wastewater, focusing on the water brought by households and communities to minimize environmental harm [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR8\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e8\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Despite existing laws like the Clean Water Act, weak enforcement has worsened the problem. Low-cost solutions such as septic tank maintenance, constructed wetlands, and decentralized treatment systems (DEWATS) can help reduce contamination and protect public health [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR9\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e9\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eParasitic intestinal infections caused by helminths and protozoa pose a significant public health burden due to interconnected risk factors that span multiple domains. Socioeconomically disadvantaged populations face elevated risks, with overcrowded households (8\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;members) showing 64.9% infection rates compared to 25% in smaller families, while lower parental education increases exposure [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR10\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e10\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Environmental contamination through untreated wastewater, flooding, and contaminated water sources allows pathogens like \\u003cem\\u003eGiardia\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCryptosporidium\\u003c/em\\u003e to survive 6\\u0026ndash;12 months, with communities facing multiple environmental problems that can lead to infection rates of 76.92% [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR11\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e11\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR12\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e12\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Behavioral factors significantly influence transmission, where protective practices, such as handwashing, nail trimming, and proper footwear use, reduce the risk, while open defecation and recreational water exposure increase it [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR13\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e13\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Health-related vulnerabilities compound the problem through malnutrition-induced immunosuppression affecting 22.6% of infected children [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR14\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e14\\u003c/span\\u003e] and inadequate healthcare access resulting in low deworming coverage (36.7%) with only 2.5% of symptomatic children receiving treatment [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR15\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e15\\u003c/span\\u003e]. While these studies demonstrate the complex interplay of various factors driving parasitic infections, further research remains essential to identify additional unknown contributing factors and fully understand transmission pathways in endemic communities [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR16\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e16\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSimilar risks exist in the Abacan Bridge area of Angeles City, where frequent exposure to untreated wastewater and inadequate waste management practices may pose serious public health threats, particularly to nearby households. General public and domestic waste are disposed of directly into the river (river dumping), causing pollution, deteriorating water quality, and increasing health risks for surrounding communities. Such contamination elevates the likelihood of contracting waterborne parasitic infections that disproportionately affect children [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR17\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e17\\u003c/span\\u003e]. However, limited data on pathogen presence and infection rates in this community hinder the development of evidence-based prevention and control strategies. Socio-demographic characteristics, along with socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related factors, are believed to influence disease prevalence. This study aimed to examine the associations between wastewater-related risk factors and parasitic infections among children aged 2\\u0026ndash;14 years in the Abacan Bridge area through descriptive analysis of prevalence patterns and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors while accounting for socio-demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related confounders.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"2 Methods\",\"content\":\"\\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec3\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.1 Study Design and Locale\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eA descriptive correlational study was conducted to investigate the potential association between wastewater management practices of selected households residing near the Abacan Bridge in Angeles City, Pampanga, located in Central Luzon, Philippines, and the prevalence of parasitic infections among children. The Abacan River, situated at a latitude of 15\\u0026deg; 9\\u0026rsquo; 8\\u0026rdquo; N and a longitude of 120\\u0026deg; 38\\u0026rsquo; 59\\u0026rdquo; E, is a significant tributary of the Pasac River that flows through Angeles City, one of the largest urban areas in the Pampanga River basin that has undergone urbanization in the past decades [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR17\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e17\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe study was conducted at Brgy. Malabanias, Angeles City, specifically focusing on three \\u003cem\\u003esitios\\u003c/em\\u003e: Ipil, Cuayan, and Abacan Riverside, all situated near the Abacan River (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e). Living in proximity to rivers in poor socioeconomic regions has been linked to heightened exposure to parasitic illnesses [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR13\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e13\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Such were selected since their residents remain in the vicinity of the river despite relocation programs in other areas, and still lack established water supplies and toilet facilities.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec4\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.2 Study Participants and Sampling\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe study participants primarily consisted of children aged 2\\u0026ndash;14 years old and their parents or guardians from households living near the Abacan River. All participating children underwent routine fecalysis, given their frequent contact with contaminated environments and possible susceptibility to parasitic infections [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR18\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e18\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe sample size was determined using the Raosoft calculator [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR19\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e19\\u003c/span\\u003e] based on 1,061 households comprising 4,350 people across the three \\u003cem\\u003esitios\\u003c/em\\u003e. Based on standard statistical parameters, a minimum of 113 households was required to ensure reliable results. Quota sampling was employed to enhance representativeness while maintaining practical feasibility.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eRespondents must have resided for a minimum of six months near the Abacan River with their parents or guardians, and have the ability to read and write. Participants aged 2\\u0026ndash;14 years who took antibacterial, antidiarrheal, and anthelmintic medications during data collection were excluded, as these medications may interfere with parasite identification.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec5\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.3 Research Instruments\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cb\\u003eSurvey Tool.\\u003c/b\\u003e The survey tool consisted of questions adapted from prior studies to meet the research objectives [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR18\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e18\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR20\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e20\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR21\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e21\\u003c/span\\u003e]. It comprised 30 questions, divided into two sections: a socio-demographic profile (6 questions) and risk factors (24 questions, covering socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related factors). For Likert-scale questions, options were \\u0026ldquo;Always\\u0026rdquo;, \\u0026ldquo;Sometimes\\u0026rdquo;, and \\u0026ldquo;Not at all\\u0026rdquo; with weighted averages categorized as 1.00-1.66 (Always), 1.67\\u0026ndash;2.33 (Sometimes), and 2.34-3.00 (Not at all). The survey tool was validated by a statistician and two public health professionals, translated into Filipino, and pilot-tested with 11 households, requiring approximately 10\\u0026ndash;15 minutes to complete.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cb\\u003eFecal Analysis.\\u003c/b\\u003e Stool examination was used to provide essential data on the prevalence of parasitic infections by collecting one-time stool samples from children [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR16\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e16\\u003c/span\\u003e], which were processed at the diagnostic center using microscopic analysis to detect and identify parasitic organisms and their prevalence within the sample population.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec6\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.4 Data Collection\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eBefore conducting the study, comprehensive permission was obtained from the Malabanias Barangay Hall and the Ethics Research Committee of Angeles University Foundation. All participating households received informed consent forms in Filipino and age-appropriate assents\\u0026mdash;emphasizing voluntary participation and the right to withdraw from the study. The study employed a two-fold approach: parents or guardians of children aged 2\\u0026ndash;14 years were surveyed regarding household practices and various risk factors, while their children underwent fecalysis to assess the potential impacts of wastewater exposure.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSterile containers were provided to each household, along with clear instructions for parents to help their children collect the samples. Specimens were transported to FASTMED Diagnostics in cooler boxes with ice packs to maintain specimen viability. Laboratory processing utilized direct fecal smear techniques for microscopic examination, with results reported as positive when eggs, ova, cysts, or trophozoites were observed, and negative when no parasitic forms were detected.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec7\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.5 Data Analysis\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cb\\u003eDescriptive Statistics.\\u003c/b\\u003e All data collected were entered into IBM SPSS Statistics version 30 for statistical testing. Descriptive statistics summarized the study population's characteristics and the prevalence of parasitic infections, using frequencies and percentages to analyze the distribution of infections across demographic groups and to assess the prevalence of various risk factors classified into socioeconomic, environmental, and health categories. For behavioral variables, weighted means were calculated to reflect average behavioral patterns associated with parasitic infection risk.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cb\\u003eRegression Analysis.\\u003c/b\\u003e Chi-square tests of independence were used to analyze the association between risk factors and the occurrence of parasitic infections, with a significance threshold of P \\u0026lt; .05. Univariate logistic regression was conducted, with an inclusion criterion of \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .25, to identify possible predictors and filter candidate variables. Variables meeting this criterion were incorporated into a multivariate analysis to account for confounding factors and identify independent risk factors linked to parasitic infection, with statistical significance set at \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .05. The multivariate approach allowed for consideration of multiple factors simultaneously, enabling the differentiation of the true effects of each risk factor from the influences of others.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"3 Results\",\"content\":\"\\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec9\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e3.1 Prevalence of Parasitic Infections Among Children in the Abacan Bridge\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eOf the 120 children aged 2\\u0026ndash;14 years old examined in the Abacan Bridge area, 57 tested positive for parasitic infections, representing an overall infection rate of 47.5%. Helminthic infections accounted for the majority of the disease burden, with Ascaris lumbricoides (39.55%) as the primary parasitic pathogen, whereas protozoal infections were considerably less common (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWhen comparing infection rates by sex, Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e shows that male children had higher infection rates than females (33.3% vs. 14.2%), with protozoal infections detected exclusively in males. Age-stratified analysis showed the highest burden in children aged 6\\u0026ndash;10 years (30%), followed by those\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026le;\\u0026thinsp;5 years (13.3%), while the 11\\u0026ndash;14 years group had the lowest prevalence (4.2%). \\u003cem\\u003eAscaris lumbricoides\\u003c/em\\u003e was most common in the 6\\u0026ndash;10 years group (25%), and \\u003cem\\u003eTrichuris trichiura\\u003c/em\\u003e occurred only in the two youngest age groups.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"gridtable\\\"\\u003e\\u003ctable float=\\\"Yes\\\" id=\\\"Tab1\\\" border=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e \\u003ccaption language=\\\"En\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionNumber\\\"\\u003eTable 1\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionContent\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eOverall Prevalence and Distribution of Parasitic Infections Among Children by Sex and Age Group\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/caption\\u003e \\u003ccolgroup cols=\\\"7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" colnum=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\" colnum=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\" colnum=\\\"3\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\" colnum=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\" colnum=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\" colnum=\\\"6\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\" colnum=\\\"7\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cthead\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c4\\\" namest=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNo. of infected\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003echildren by sex\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"3\\\" nameend=\\\"c7\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNo. of infected children\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eby age group\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/thead\\u003e \\u003ctbody\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eParasite species\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMale (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFemale (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026le;\\u0026thinsp;5 (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6\\u0026ndash;10 (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e11\\u0026ndash;14 (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eHelminths\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eA. lumbricoides\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eT. trichiura\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e34 (27.9)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3 (2.1)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e15 (11.65)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4 (2.55)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e13 (10.4)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (1.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e31 (25)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (3.4)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (4.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eProtozoa\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eE. coli\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eG. lamblia\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (0.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3 (2.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (1.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (0.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (0.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eNo infection\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eSingle infection\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eDouble infection\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003csup\\u003ea\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eOverall infection\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e44 (36.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e39 (32.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (0.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e40 (33.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e19 (15.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e15 (12.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (1.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e17 (14.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e25 (20.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e15 (12.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (0.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e16 (13.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e33 (27.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e34 (28.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (1.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e36 (30)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (4.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (4.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (4.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tbody\\u003e \\u003c/colgroup\\u003e \\u003ctfoot\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e\\u003ctd colspan=\\\"7\\\"\\u003e\\u003csup\\u003ea\\u003c/sup\\u003e Mixed infection of \\u003cem\\u003eA. lumbricoides\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;\\u003cem\\u003eT. trichiura\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/td\\u003e\\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tfoot\\u003e \\u003c/table\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec10\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e3.2 Socio-Demographic Profile of Parents or Guardians\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe majority of respondents were mothers (69.2%), aged 31\\u0026ndash;40 (37.5%), and had a high school education (58.3%). Employment status indicated that the majority were unemployed (56.6%). Additionally, most children fell within the 6\\u0026ndash;10 years age group (57.5%). Among these variables, only employment status was significantly associated with parasitic infection (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .008*). Specifically, children from households with unemployed parents had the highest infection rate (55.9%), compared to those from families with employed parents (48.5%) and self-employed parents (15.8%) (Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"gridtable\\\"\\u003e\\u003ctable float=\\\"Yes\\\" id=\\\"Tab2\\\" border=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e \\u003ccaption language=\\\"En\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionNumber\\\"\\u003eTable 2\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionContent\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSocio-Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/caption\\u003e \\u003ccolgroup cols=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" colnum=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\" colnum=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\" colnum=\\\"3\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\" colnum=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\" colnum=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cthead\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" morerows=\\\"1\\\" rowspan=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eVariables\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"3\\\" nameend=\\\"c4\\\" namest=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eParasitic Infection\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\" morerows=\\\"1\\\" rowspan=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u003c/em\\u003e-value\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ePositive No. (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNegative No. (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTotal No. (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/thead\\u003e \\u003ctbody\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eRole in the Family\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMother\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFather\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eGrandmother\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAunt\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUncle\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eEldest Sibling\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e37 (44.6)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e11 (55)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4 (40)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (100)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (100)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e46 (55.4)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e9 (45)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6 (60)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e83 (69.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e20 (16.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e10 (8.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4 (3.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (0.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (1.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.509\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eAge of Respondent\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e11\\u0026ndash;20 years old\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e21\\u0026ndash;30 years old\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e31\\u0026ndash;40 years old\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e41\\u0026ndash;50 years old\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e51\\u0026ndash;60 years old\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (25)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e18 (43.9)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e24 (53.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6 (46.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e7 (53.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6 (75)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e23 (56.1)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e21 (46.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e7 (53.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6 (46.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e8 (6.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e41 (34.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e45 (37.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e13 (10.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e13 (10.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.614\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eEducational Attainment\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNone\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eElementary\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eHigh school\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eCollege\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (33.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e24 (55.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e30 (42.9)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (66.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e19 (44.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e40 (57.1)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3 (2.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e43 (35.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e70 (58.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4 (3.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.562\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eEmployment Status\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eEmployed\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSelf-employed\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUnemployed\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e16 (48.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3 (15.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e38 (55.9)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e17 (51.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e16 (84.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e30 (44.1)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e33 (27.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e19 (15.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e68 (56.6)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e.008*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eAge of Child (in years)\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026le;\\u0026thinsp;5\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6\\u0026ndash;10\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e11\\u0026ndash;14\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e16 (39)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e36 (52.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e25 (61)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e33 (47.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e41 (34.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e69 (57.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e10 (8.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.404\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tbody\\u003e \\u003c/colgroup\\u003e \\u003ctfoot\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e\\u003ctd colspan=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e*\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .05\\u003c/td\\u003e\\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tfoot\\u003e \\u003c/table\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec11\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e3.3 Risk Factors Related to Wastewater Management Practices\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThis section examines the socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and health-related factors that contribute to parasitic infections. A larger family size was significantly associated with higher infection rates (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .021*), with 64% in households with more than eight members compared to 25% in households with 1\\u0026ndash;3 members. Although the monthly income was not statistically significant (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .959), the majority of infected children still came from families with an income of less than ₱10,000.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eRegarding sanitation, sharing toilet facilities significantly increased the risk of infection (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .032*). Children who shared toilets had higher infection rates (68.2%) compared to those with private facilities (42.9%), highlighting the risk of transmission in shared sanitation settings. Additionally, local system issues, such as exposure to poor drainage, polluted water, and uncollected garbage, were strongly linked to infection (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .001*), with 76.9% of children exposed to multiple issues testing positive.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eHealth-related factors revealed that only 23.3% of children recalled prior infection, likely underestimating prevalence due to a lack of formal diagnosis, as reflected by the 64.2% with no prior infections and 12.5% who were unsure. Deworming coverage was low, at 36.7%. Among symptomatic children, only 2.5% received deworming medication, while many relied on home remedies (19.2%), over-the-counter drugs (9.2%), or received no treatment (8.3%). The absence of recent deworming significantly increased infection rates (61.1% vs. 22.7%), and untreated children had the highest prevalence (90% past, 88.5% current).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTable\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e presents the behavioral factors of the children, assessed using a 3-point Likert scale, which revealed high adherence to hygiene practices, including soap use (M\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;1.60), nail trimming (M\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;1.56), and hand washing (M\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;1.50). In contrast, participation in Abacan River activities (M\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;2.09) was rated as \\u0026ldquo;Sometimes,\\u0026rdquo; indicating greater environmental exposure. At the same time, consistent soap use reduced infection rates to 9.8%. Similarly, regular nail trimming and hand washing lowered infection rates to 31.5% and 23.3%, respectively. Most notably, avoiding river activities was the strongest protective factor, with nonparticipants showing an infection rate of only 7.5%. River activities pose a high risk for parasitic infections.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"gridtable\\\"\\u003e\\u003ctable float=\\\"Yes\\\" id=\\\"Tab3\\\" border=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e \\u003ccaption language=\\\"En\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionNumber\\\"\\u003eTable 3\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionContent\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eChildren\\u0026rsquo;s Behavioral Risk Factors Associated with Parasitic Infections\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/caption\\u003e \\u003ccolgroup cols=\\\"7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" colnum=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\" colnum=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\" colnum=\\\"3\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\" colnum=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\" colnum=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\" colnum=\\\"6\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\" colnum=\\\"7\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cthead\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" morerows=\\\"1\\\" rowspan=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eVariables\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"3\\\" nameend=\\\"c4\\\" namest=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eParasitic Infection\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" morerows=\\\"1\\\" nameend=\\\"c6\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\" rowspan=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMean\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e(Interpretation)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\" morerows=\\\"1\\\" rowspan=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e value\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ePositive (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNegative (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTotal (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/thead\\u003e \\u003ctbody\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eHandwashing Habit\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (\\u0026ge;\\u0026thinsp;6 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (1\\u0026ndash;5 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (0 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e14 (23.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e43 (71.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e46 (76.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e17 (28.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e60 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e60 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c6\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.50\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e(Always)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;.001*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eUse of Soap\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (\\u0026ge;\\u0026thinsp;6 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (1\\u0026ndash;5 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (0 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5 (9.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e49 (40.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3 (100)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e46 (90.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e17 (14.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e51 (42.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e66 (55)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3 (2.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c6\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.60\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e(Always)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;.001*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eTrimming of Nails\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (1 time/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (When long enough)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (Never)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e17 (31.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e39 (60)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (100)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e37 (68.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e26 (40)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e54 (45)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e65 (54.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (0.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c6\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.56\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e(Always)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e.005*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eSlipper Wearing Habit\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (\\u0026ge;\\u0026thinsp;4 times/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (1 time/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (Never)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e32 (36.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e22 (73.3)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (100)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e55 (63.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e8 (26.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 (0)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e87 (72.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e30 (25)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3 (2.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c6\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.30\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e(Always)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;.001*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eWeekly Bathing\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (Everyday)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (3 times/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (Never)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e39 (41.9)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e17 (68)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e54 (58.1)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e8 (32)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1 (50)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e93 (77.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e25 (20.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2 (1.7)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c6\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.24\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e(Always)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.068\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eAbacan River Activity\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (Everyday)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (2\\u0026ndash;3 times/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (Never)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e38 (90.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e15 (60)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4 (7.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4 (9.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e10 (40)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e49 (92.5)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e42 (35)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e25 (20.8)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e53 (44.2)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c6\\\" namest=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2.09\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e(Sometimes)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c7\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;.001*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tbody\\u003e \\u003c/colgroup\\u003e \\u003ctfoot\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e\\u003ctd colspan=\\\"7\\\"\\u003e*\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .05\\u003c/td\\u003e\\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tfoot\\u003e \\u003c/table\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec12\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e3.4 Univariate and Multivariate Analysis of Potential Risk Factors Associated with Parasitic Infections\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTable\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e presents both crude odds ratios (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for potential risk factors associated with parasitic infection. In the univariate binary logistic regression analysis, which presents the COR without adjusting for other variables, several factors were found to be significantly associated with parasitic infection. These included employment status (COR\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.743; 95% CI [0.323, 1.710]; \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .018**), smaller family size (1\\u0026ndash;3 members with a COR of 0.181, and 4\\u0026ndash;7 members with a COR of 0.396, both at \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .026**), soap use during handwashing (COR\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0; \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .118*), recent deworming (COR\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.054; 95% CI [0.002, 1.229]; \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.004**), and engagement in activities in the Abacan River (COR\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;45.733; 95% CI [8.712, 240.060]; \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .001**).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"gridtable\\\"\\u003e\\u003ctable float=\\\"Yes\\\" id=\\\"Tab4\\\" border=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e \\u003ccaption language=\\\"En\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionNumber\\\"\\u003eTable 4\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionContent\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eCrude and Adjusted Odds Ratios for Risk Factors Associated with Parasitic Infections: Univariate and Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/caption\\u003e \\u003ccolgroup cols=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" colnum=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\" colnum=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\" colnum=\\\"3\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\" colnum=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\" colnum=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cthead\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"4\\\" nameend=\\\"c5\\\" namest=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eParasitic Infection\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eVariables\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c3\\\" namest=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUnivariate Analysis\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colspan=\\\"2\\\" nameend=\\\"c5\\\" namest=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMultivariate Analysis\\u003csup\\u003ea\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/thead\\u003e \\u003ctbody\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eCOR [95% CI]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e value\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAOR [95% CI]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e value\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eEmployment status\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eEmployed\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSelf-employed\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUnemployed\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.743 [0.323, 1.710]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.148 [0.039, 0.556]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e.018**\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.232 [0.160, 9.495]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.063 [0.004, 0.968]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.115\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eFamily Size\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u0026ndash;3\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4\\u0026ndash;7\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAbove 8\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.181 [0.041, 0.786]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.396 [0.174, 0.903]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e.026**\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.058 [0.001, 2.336]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.139 [0.016, 1.218]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.153\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eSharing of Facility\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWith others\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNone\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.908 [0.625, 5.826]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.257\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eLocal System Issues\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ePoor Drainage\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUncollected Garbage\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ePolluted Water\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAir pollution\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMore than one applicable\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNone\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0104 [0.033, 0.327]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.544 [0.122, 2.435]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.216 [0.075, 0.621]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.091 [0.009, 0.936]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e-\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;.001**\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.919 [0.152, 24.181]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.303 [0.019, 4.835]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.251 [0, 2275.818]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.721 [0.021, 24.686]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.692\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eHandwashing Habit\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (\\u0026ge;\\u0026thinsp;6 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (1\\u0026ndash;5 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.526 [0.104, 2.667]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.438\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eUse of Soap\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (\\u0026ge;\\u0026thinsp;6 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (1\\u0026ndash;5 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (0 times/day)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e.118*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.102\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eTrimming of Nails\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (1 time/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (When long enough)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (Never)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.978\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eSlipper Wearing Habit\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (\\u0026ge;\\u0026thinsp;4 times/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (1 time/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (Never)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e86946 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e225 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.852\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eAbacan River Activity\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlways (Everyday)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSometimes (2\\u0026ndash;3 times/week)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot at all (Never)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e45.733 [8.712, 240.060]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e11.089 [2.514, 48.915]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;.001**\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e176.284 [14.272, 2177.427]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e40.895 [4.297, 389.182]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;.001**\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eRecent Deworming\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eYes\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNo\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUnsure/Don\\u0026rsquo;t Remember\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.054 [0.002, 1.229]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.396 [0.020, 7.763]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e.004**\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.120 [0.001, 12.063]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.259 [0.003, 22.410]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.565\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003ePast Symptoms\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAbdominal pain\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eDiarrhea\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWeight loss\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFatigue\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eRashes\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAnal itching\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWorms coming out\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFever\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMultiple symptoms\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot applicable\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.121 [0.014, 1.058]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.267 [0.046, 1.538]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e- [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e- [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.384 [0.10, 15.023]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.198 [0.028, 1.410]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.678\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003ePast Treatment\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eVisited a physician\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ePrescription medicine\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eOTC medication\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eHome remedies\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eDeworming\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNo treatment sought\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot applicable\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.888 [0.120, 6.574]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.259 [0.087, 18.286]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.212 [0.017, 2.653]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.814 [0.074, 8.991]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4.303 [0.164, 112.86]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2.150 [0.088, 52.63]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.688\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eCurrent Symptoms\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAbdominal pain\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eDiarrhea\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eLoss of Appetite\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eRashes\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eCough and Colds\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMultiple symptoms\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot applicable\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.986 [0.065, 14.925]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3.127 [0.102, 95.924]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.920 [0.057, 64.971]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.984\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026mdash;\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003eCurrent Treatment\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eVisited a physician\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ePrescription medicine\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eOTC medication\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eHome remedies\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNo treatment sought\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNot applicable\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.804 [0.012, 54.358]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e8.074 [0.118, 551.308]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e34.352 [0.862, 1368.531]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cb\\u003e.172*\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.354 [0.020, 6.271]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 [0, -]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.450 [0, 614.775]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2.793 [0.250, 31.229]\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e.915\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tbody\\u003e \\u003c/colgroup\\u003e \\u003c/table\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cem\\u003eAOR\\u003c/em\\u003e adjusted odds ratio, \\u003cem\\u003eCI\\u003c/em\\u003e confidence interval, \\u003cem\\u003eCOR\\u003c/em\\u003e crude odds ratio, \\u003cem\\u003eOTC\\u003c/em\\u003e over-the-counter\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003csup\\u003ea\\u003c/sup\\u003eAdjusted model between parasitic infection and employment status, family size, local system issues, use of soap, Abacan River activity, recent deworming, and current treatment\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e*\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .25; **\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .05; 1, reference. -, infinite\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAltogether, when these variables were entered into a multivariate binary logistic regression model to account for potential confounding, only Abacan River activity remained statistically significant at the .05 level (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .001 **). After adjusting for other factors, individuals engaging in activities in the Abacan River had a substantially higher risk of parasitic infection, independent of other variables.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"4 Discussion\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eThe study found a high prevalence of \\u003cem\\u003eAscaris lumbricoides\\u003c/em\\u003e infection among children, consistent with reports from areas with poor sanitation [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR22\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e22\\u003c/span\\u003e]. This suggests that inadequate sanitation infrastructure, poor hygiene, and unclean water create conditions that support parasite transmission. Furthermore, boys were more frequently infected, likely due to both biological and behavioral factors [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR23\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e23\\u003c/span\\u003e]. The highest burden was seen in children aged 6\\u0026ndash;10, who are more exposed to contaminated environments and still developing hygiene habits. In contrast, older children had lower rates due to better awareness and improved immunity [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR24\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e24\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eIn the study, most respondents were mothers, reflecting their central role in childcare and household sanitation [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR11\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e11\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR25\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e25\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Larger family sizes were significantly associated with infection, as overcrowding and shared sanitation increased transmission risk [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR11\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e11\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR26\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e26\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Although many households had piped water and durable floors, community-level infrastructure failures undermine household-level water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR11\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e11\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR12\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e12\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eDeworming reduced the risk of infection, but coverage remained low (36.7%), and very few symptomatic children received treatment; consequently, children who had not been recently dewormed had higher odds of infection [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR1\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR15\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e15\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Many relied on home remedies or avoided professional care, showing cultural, economic, and access barriers [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR27\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e27\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Symptom clustering suggested heavier parasite loads, though single symptoms were unreliable indicators. Moreover, underreporting of infections in the study was likely due to poor access to healthcare and limited awareness [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR1\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR14\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e14\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eBehaviorally, several factors were protective against parasitic infections in children, including handwashing with soap (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .001), weekly nail trimming (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e = .005), and wearing slippers (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .001), underscoring the role of hygiene in preventing fecal-oral transmission [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR28\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e28\\u003c/span\\u003e]. In contrast, frequent exposure to the Abacan River was the most substantial risk factor (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .001*), as contaminated water served as a major route of infection, undermining these protective practices [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR28\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e28\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR29\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e29\\u003c/span\\u003e]. Given that children are highly impressionable and tend to adopt observed behaviors, integrating early hygiene education alongside environmental interventions is essential for establishing lifelong healthy habits [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR7\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e7\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR16\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e16\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMultivariate analysis showed that Abacan River activities independently increased parasitic infection risk in presence of other confounding factors, with daily participants having about 176-fold higher odds (AOR\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;176.284; 95% CI [14.272, 2177.427]) and those engaging 2\\u0026ndash;3 times weekly also at markedly elevated risk (AOR\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;40.895; 95% CI [4.297, 389.182] compared to non-participants. The findings align with existing evidence on waterborne parasitic diseases. The Abacan River, previously identified as \\u0026ldquo;the most problematic receiving water\\u0026rdquo; due to untreated wastewater discharges, elevated concentrations of pollutants such as ammonia and phosphates, and extensive point- and non-point source contamination, emerged as the primary driver of infection. In contrast, factors such as socioeconomic status, hygiene practices, and deworming were not significant in the multivariate analysis. These results highlight the predominance of behavioral over socioeconomic factors, suggesting that direct water-related exposure pathways override traditional poverty-related risks in this river-proximate setting [\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR3\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR17\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e17\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR30\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e30\\u003c/span\\u003e].\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"5 Conclusion\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eThis study confirmed a high prevalence of parasitic infections among children aged 2\\u0026ndash;14 years in the Abacan Bridge area, with \\u003cem\\u003eAscaris lumbricoides\\u003c/em\\u003e as the most common parasite. Behavioral risk factors were the strongest predictors of infection, and multivariate analysis identified participation in river activities as the single most significant determinant of infection. These findings underscore the need for immediate public health measures, including enhanced wastewater management, safe water access, and improved sanitation infrastructure, to mitigate risks of contamination. Health promotion campaigns should prioritize participatory and community-based approaches to strengthen WASH practices, complemented by regular deworming programs for populations at risk. For future research, stratifying risk factors by age group would clarify age-related susceptibility and exposure. Employing more sensitive diagnostic techniques, such as the Kato-Katz method, and adopting longitudinal designs would enable researchers to observe trends and changes in parasitic infections over time.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"Declarations\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAcknowledgement\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe researchers would like to express their gratitude to the Barangay officials of Malabanias for their coordination and to the FASTMED Diagnostics Laboratory staff for their technical assistance in specimen processing. Above all, heartfelt thanks are extended to the parents, guardians, and children who willingly participated in this study, as their time and cooperation made this research possible.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAuthor Contributions\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eKNY and MAIT conceptualized the research idea, while CNSS, ABDS, JIM, SMP, DGCM, HADR, and ATN developed the objectives. CNSS conducted the statistical analysis with support from the other authors, and ATN provided methodological oversight. All authors contributed to the study design, data collection, manuscript drafting, and critical revisions, and approved the final version, taking complete accountability for its accuracy and integrity.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eFunding\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eData Availability\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAll data from this article can be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eDeclarations\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eEthical Considerations\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe study protocol was approved by the Angeles University Foundation - Ethics Research Committee (AUF-ERC), which holds a level 2 accreditation from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). An ethics certificate was issued on March 17, 2025, under ERC Code 2025-CAMP-Student-013. This certificate confirms that the study complied with the guidelines and standards set by PHREB, ensuring the welfare of both parents or guardians and their children.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eConsent to Participate\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eWritten informed consent containing comprehensive information about the study’s purpose, potential risks, inconveniences, benefits, and data management procedures was provided to the parents or guardians of each household, and their signature was obtained to indicate their agreement to participate in the study. \\u0026nbsp;The children (6-10 years old) who underwent fecalysis were still minors and could not provide informed consent; therefore, parental assent was obtained as well. \\u0026nbsp; Participation was entirely voluntary, with participants retaining the right to withdraw at any time without penalty or consequence. Researchers were committed to informing participants of any procedural changes.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eConsent for Publication\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eNot applicable.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eDeclaration of Conflicting Interests\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"References\",\"content\":\"\\u003col\\u003e\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cspan\\u003eWorld Health Organization. Soil-transmitted helminth infections. World Health Organization. January 18. 2023. Accessed September 27, 2024. \\u003cspan class=\\\"ExternalRef\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan class=\\\"RefSource\\\"\\u003ehttps://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cspan address=\\\"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections\\\" targettype=\\\"URL\\\" class=\\\"RefTarget\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e \\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cspan\\u003eMationg MLS, Williams GM, Tallo VL et al. Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren. Taylan Ozkan A, ed. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(12):e0010008. \\u003cspan class=\\\"ExternalRef\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan class=\\\"RefSource\\\"\\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cspan address=\\\"10.1371/journal.pntd.0010008\\\" targettype=\\\"DOI\\\" class=\\\"RefTarget\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e \\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cspan\\u003eRoss AG, Papier K, Luceres-Catubig R, Chau TN, Inobaya MT, Ng SK, Poverty. Dietary Intake, Intestinal Parasites, and Nutritional Status among School-Age Children in the Rural Philippines. 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Preprint posted online September. 2021;15. \\u003cspan class=\\\"ExternalRef\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan class=\\\"RefSource\\\"\\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-877501/v1\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cspan address=\\\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-877501/v1\\\" targettype=\\\"DOI\\\" class=\\\"RefTarget\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e \\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cspan\\u003ePaige SB, Friant S, Clech L, et al. Combining Footwear with Public Health Iconography to Prevent Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections. Am Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2017;96(1):205\\u0026ndash;13. \\u003cspan class=\\\"ExternalRef\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan class=\\\"RefSource\\\"\\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0910\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cspan address=\\\"10.4269/ajtmh.15-0910\\\" targettype=\\\"DOI\\\" class=\\\"RefTarget\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e \\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cspan\\u003eHassanein F, Masoud IM, Fekry MM, et al. 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Manila, PH. \\u003cspan class=\\\"ExternalRef\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan class=\\\"RefSource\\\"\\u003ehttps://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-congress-proceedings/2015/SEE/036-SEE_Janairo_ZN.pdf\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cspan address=\\\"https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-congress-proceedings/2015/SEE/036-SEE_Janairo_ZN.pdf\\\" targettype=\\\"URL\\\" class=\\\"RefTarget\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\u003c/ol\\u003e\"}],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":true,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":false,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":false,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":false,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":false,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"discover-public-health\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)\",\"snPcode\":\"12982\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3\",\"title\":\"Discover Public Health\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Discover Series\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true},\"keywords\":\"Helminthiasis, Parasitic infection, Philippine public health, River health risks, Sanitation practices, School-age parasitism, Wastewater exposure\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8846501/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8846501/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003ch2\\u003eBackground\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eParasitic infections, particularly helminthiasis, remain a significant public health concern in communities with poor sanitation and high wastewater exposure. This study investigated the relationship between wastewater management practices and the prevalence of parasitic infections among residents along the Abacan River in Angeles City, Pampanga, located in Central Luzon, Philippines.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eMethods\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eA descriptive correlational design was employed, involving surveys from 113 households and fecal analysis of 120 children aged 2–14 years.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eResults\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eResults showed a 47.5% prevalence rate, with \\u003cem\\u003eAscaris lumbricoides\\u003c/em\\u003e as the most common helminth. Regression analysis identified employment status, family size, soap use, river activity, deworming history, and treatment status as predictors. Notably, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that, among all variables, participation in river activities was the only statistically significant factor (\\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u0026lt; .001), indicating an elevated risk of infection.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eConclusion\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThese findings underscore the urgent need for targeted health interventions and improved wastewater management to reduce infection rates in high-risk populations. The study concludes that inadequate wastewater management practices, along with various interconnected risk factors, significantly contribute to elevated parasitic infection rates among vulnerable populations.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"manuscriptTitle\":\"Linking Wastewater Exposure to Parasitic Infection Prevalence Among Riverside Households in Angeles City, Philippines\",\"msid\":\"\",\"msnumber\":\"\",\"nonDraftVersions\":[{\"code\":1,\"date\":\"2026-03-13 15:09:58\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8846501/v1\",\"editorialEvents\":[{\"type\":\"communityComments\",\"content\":0},{\"type\":\"decision\",\"content\":\"Revision requested\",\"date\":\"2026-04-17T07:16:49+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvitedReview\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-23T07:48:33+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvitedReview\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-21T21:39:24+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvitedReview\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-16T08:55:17+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewerAgreed\",\"content\":\"201639625070545185433824343717187381869\",\"date\":\"2026-03-13T11:42:06+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewerAgreed\",\"content\":\"68735361016952358006839417885578667181\",\"date\":\"2026-03-12T16:37:29+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewerAgreed\",\"content\":\"65028827503201064919921898819928044168\",\"date\":\"2026-03-12T05:58:31+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewersInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-09T14:39:10+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorAssigned\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-09T14:38:44+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-02-17T15:23:33+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"checksComplete\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-02-17T12:41:53+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"submitted\",\"content\":\"Discover Public Health\",\"date\":\"2026-02-17T12:36:22+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"}],\"status\":\"published\",\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"discover-public-health\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)\",\"snPcode\":\"12982\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3\",\"title\":\"Discover Public Health\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Discover Series\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true}}],\"origin\":\"\",\"ownerIdentity\":\"23d75bdd-5ff6-41f8-ab45-08d9aac18558\",\"owner\":[],\"postedDate\":\"March 13th, 2026\",\"published\":true,\"recentEditorialEvents\":[],\"rejectedJournal\":[],\"revision\":\"\",\"amendment\":\"\",\"status\":\"under-review\",\"subjectAreas\":[],\"tags\":[],\"updatedAt\":\"2026-05-15T13:23:36+00:00\",\"versionOfRecord\":[],\"versionCreatedAt\":\"2026-03-13 15:09:58\",\"video\":\"\",\"vorDoi\":\"\",\"vorDoiUrl\":\"\",\"workflowStages\":[]},\"version\":\"v1\",\"identity\":\"rs-8846501\",\"journalConfig\":\"researchsquare\"},\"__N_SSP\":true},\"page\":\"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]\",\"query\":{\"redirect\":\"/article/rs-8846501\",\"identity\":\"rs-8846501\",\"version\":[\"v1\"]},\"buildId\":\"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd\",\"isFallback\":false,\"isExperimentalCompile\":false,\"dynamicIds\":[84888],\"gssp\":true,\"scriptLoader\":[]}","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}