Keterkaitan Perilaku Cuci Tangan Pakai Sabun dengan Kejadian Infeksi Parasit Usus di SMP Negeri 2 Satu Atap Onanrunggu, Desa Sipira, Kabupaten Samosir, Sumatera Utara.

Abstract

Background. Intestinal parasitic infections remain a public health problem in areas with inadequate sanitation, including Indonesia. One effective preventive measure is the practice of Handwashing with Soap (CTPS), which is part of Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS). School-aged adolescents, especially students of SMPN 2 Satu Atap Onanrunggu, are vulnerable to infections due to suboptimal hygiene habits. Sipira Village in Samosir Regency has limited sanitation facilities and low CTPS practices in schools, while no study has examined the relationship between CTPS behavior and intestinal parasitic infections among adolescents in this area. Objective. This study aims to describe students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to handwashing with soap (HWWS) behavior, and to analyze the relationship between the representation of HWWS behavior and nutritional status with the incidence of intestinal parasitic infections among students of SMPN 2 Satu Atap Onanrunggu. Methods. This cross-sectional study involved 126 respondents. Data were collected using questionnaires to assess CTPS knowledge, attitude, and action. Then, microscopic examination of feces and nail samples using sedimentation and lugol staining methods to detect intestinal parasitic infections, and nutritional status measurement based on body mass index (BMI) CDC 2000 percentiles. Results. The results showed that most respondents had good knowledge (74.4%), positive attitudes (93.6%), good practices (56.8%), and good handwashing behavior (73.0%). A total of 30.2% of respondents were infected with intestinal parasites, with Blastocystis hominis being the most frequently identified species (63.2%). Most respondents also had normal nutritional status (61.1%). The Chi-square test indicated no significant association between handwashing behavior or nutritional status and the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections (p > 0.05). Conclusions. These findings indicate that environmental factors and the availability of CTPS facilities in schools still need to be improved to reduce the risk of intestinal parasitic infection among students.