Hubungan Personal Hygiene dengan Infeksi Cacing Usus dari Kuku pada Siswa-Siswi SD Negeri 067773 Kecamatan Medan Marelan

Abstract

Background. Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant global health issue, particularly in developing countries. In Indonesia, these infections are prevalent, especially among children, due to poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation. The primary causes include various helminths such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Hookworms. Transmission occurs through the ingestion of eggs or larvae via contaminated hands or surfaces. Fingernails are a potential medium for transferring parasitic eggs orally, increasing the risk of infection. Objective. To assess the relationship between personal hygiene and the incidence of intestinal parasitic infections among students at SD Negeri 067773, Medan Marelan. Methods. This study employed observational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. Primary data were collected from 115 students through questionnaires on personal hygiene practices and analysis of nail samples at the Parasitology Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra. Results. The findings indicated that 89.4% of students demonstrated good personal hygiene practices, while only 0.9% tested positive for intestinal parasitic infections. Conclusion. Although the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was low, the study underscores the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene to prevent infections among school-aged children.