Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional status among children: A systematic review
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/minh.v9i4.3313
Children Environmental Sanitation Nutritional Status Polyparasitism Soil-Transmitted Helminths
Abstract
Backgroound: Helminthiasis remains a significant public health problem among children in developing countries, including Indonesia. The prevalence of helminth infections among elementary school children in Indonesia averages 28.12%, with regional prevalence ranging from 2.5% to 62%. Soil-transmitted helminth infections are still widely reported and may contribute to impaired growth, anemia, and other nutritional disorders. Cases of helminthiasis, particularly ascariasis, among children under five in Seluma, Bengkulu, in 2025 were associated with poor sanitation, poverty, and inadequate living conditions.
Purpose: To analyze helminthiasis according to worm species, infection intensity, polyparasitism, and environmental sanitation, as well as its effects on children’s nutritional status.
Method: This study used a systematic review design involving scientific articles published in relevant journals. Literature searches were conducted through Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and MDPI using keywords related to helminthiasis, worm species, infection intensity, polyparasitism, environmental sanitation, and children’s nutritional status. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed descriptively to determine how worm species, infection intensity, polyparasitism, and environmental sanitation were associated with the nutritional status of children.
Results: A total of 30 eligible publications addressing worm species, infection intensity, polyparasitism, environmental sanitation, and children’s nutritional status were included in the review. The findings showed that helminth infections were associated with poor nutritional outcomes, including underweight, impaired growth, and an increased risk of stunting and anemia.
Conclusion: Helminth infections, particularly those involving Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm, were associated with poorer nutritional outcomes among children. Infection intensity, polyparasitism, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene contributed to an increased risk of stunting, wasting, underweight, and anemia.
Recommendations: Improving environmental sanitation, strengthening routine deworming programs, increasing hygiene education, and conducting regular screening for helminth infections and nutritional problems are recommended. Further research should also consider socioeconomic, educational, and behavioral factors.
Downloads
References
Agrawal, R., Pattnaik, S., Kshatri, J. S., Kanungo, S., Mandal, N., Palo, S. K., & Pati, S. (2024). Prevalence and correlates of soil-transmitted helminths in schoolchildren aged 5 to 18 years in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in public health, 12, 1283054.
Agustaria, G., Fazidah, A. S., & Nurmaini, N. (2019). The relationship of gender, school sanitation and personal hygiene with helminthiasis at juhar karo regency in North Sumatera Province, Indonesia. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, 7(20), 3497.
Aulia, A. H., Sudaryanto, S., & Arie, Y. (2024). Prevalensi infeksi kecacingan dan stunting pada balita di kelurahan sukorejo gunungpati. Biokatalis: Jurnal Ilmu Biologi dan Pendidikan Biologi, 1(2), 70-75.
Bustinduy, A. L., Parraga, I. M., Thomas, C. L., Mungai, P. L., Mutuku, F., Muchiri, E. M., & King, C. H. (2013). Impact of polyparasitic infections on anemia and undernutrition among Kenyan children living in a Schistosoma haematobium-endemic area. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 88(3), 433.
Caldrer, S., Ursini, T., Santucci, B., Motta, L., & Angheben, A. (2022). Soil-transmitted helminths and anaemia: A neglected association outside the tropics. Microorganisms, 10(5), 1027.
Degarege, A., Erko, B., Negash, Y., & Animut, A. (2022). Intestinal helminth infection, anemia, undernutrition and academic performance among school children in northwestern Ethiopia. Microorganisms, 10(7), 1353.
Fauziah, N., Aviani, J. K., Agrianfanny, Y. N., & Fatimah, S. N. (2022). Intestinal parasitic infection and nutritional status in children under five years old: a systematic review. Tropical medicine and infectious disease, 7(11), 371.
Garn, J. V., Wilkers, J. L., Meehan, A. A., Pfadenhauer, L. M., Burns, J., Imtiaz, R., & Freeman, M. C. (2022). Interventions to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene for preventing soil‐transmitted helminth infection. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6).
Hardjanti, A., Rachmawati, P., Desiyanti, T. C., Rahman, R. F., Wahyudi, Y., & Farellina, Y. I. (2017). Prevalensi dan tingkat infeksi soil transmitted helminths dihubungkan dengan golongan usia dan jenis kelamin pada 5 sekolah dasar. Majalah Kesehatan Pharmamedika, 9(2), 086-095.
Justine, N. C., Bhuko, J., Rubagumya, S. L., Basinda, N. S., Ruganuza, D. M., Zinga, M. M., & De Malsche, W. (2024). Prevalence, infection intensity, and risk factors for soil-transmitted helminth infections among school children in northwestern Tanzania. Pathogens, 13(8), 627.
John, T. J., & Kompithra, R. Z. (2023). Eco-epidemiology triad to explain infectious diseases. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 158(2), 107-112.
Kache, R., Phasuk, N., Viriyavejakul, P., & Punsawad, C. (2020). Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections and associated risk factors among elderly individuals living in rural areas of southern Thailand. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1882.
Kusumaningsih, D., Rafli, M., Sakti, I. A., Utama, P. Y., Sumo, N. L., Ryalita, N., Rifa’ie, M. R. F., Sumarni, S., & Fitria, Y. (2025). Edukasi pencegahan cacingan pada anak di Puskesmas Simpur Kota Bandar Lampung. Natural: Jurnal Pelaksanaan Pengabdian Bergerak Bersama Masyarakat, 3(1), 29–34.
Kusumasari, R. A., Adi, H., Satoto, T. B. T., Wahab, A., & Murhandarwati, E. E. H. (2025). Malnutrition among children under 7 years of age linked to ascariasis: evidence from West Sumba, Indonesia, despite ongoing deworming program. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 3920.
Mationg, M. L. S., Williams, G. M., Tallo, V. L., Olveda, R. M., Aung, E., Alday, P., & Gray, D. J. (2021). Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 15(12), e0010008.
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2025). Profil kesehatan Indonesia 2024. Retrieved from: https://kemkes.go.id/id/profil-kesehatan-indonesia-2024
Napitupulu, L. (2022). Pemeriksaan Telur Cacing Soil Transmitted Helminthes (Sth) Pada Kuku Petani Di Desa Naman Teran. The Indonesian Journal of Medical Laboratory, 3(1), 14-20.
Nembot Fogang, B. A., Debrah, L. B., Owusu, M., Agyei, G., Meyer, J., Gmanyami, J. M., & Debrah, A. Y. (2025). Helminth coinfections modulate disease dynamics and vaccination success in the era of emerging infectious diseases. Vaccines, 13(5), 436.
Sari, M. P., Susilowati, R. P., Tekege, M. Y., & Makatita, C. P. V. V. (2026). Hubungan Kecacingan dan Status Gizi Balita Usia 2-5 Tahun di Beberapa Posyandu di Wilayah Kebon Jeruk, Kota Jakarta Barat. Jurnal Kedokteran Meditek, 32(2), 50-57.
Simbolon, D., Okfrianti, Y., Kermelita, D., Darwis, D., Mulyati, L., Rochmat, R. A., & Sahidan, S. (2026). Pencegahan dan Penanggulangan Kecacingan Melalui Kolaborasi Lintas Sektor di Sekolah Dasar: Worm Prevention and Control Through Cross-Sector Collaboration in Elementary Schools. Jurnal Pengabdian dan Pengembangan Masyarakat Indonesia, 5(1), 467-481.
Sulistyani, N. (2026). Identifikasi Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) Pada Berbagai Metode Pemeriksaan. Jurnal Teras Kesehatan, 9(1), 68-76.
World Health Organization. (2017). Guideline: Preventive chemotherapy to control soil-transmitted helminth infections in at-risk population groups. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550116.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Fiya Diniarti
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
