THE EFFECT OF THE AVAILABILITY OF LATRINES ON SOIL-TRANSMITTED NEMATODE INFECTIONS IN THE PLANTATION SECTOR IN SRI-LANKA

The relationship of soil-transmitted nematode infections to the availa bility of latrines was studied among 1,614 children 3-12 years of age living on plantations in Sri Lanka. The majority (89.7%) of the childr en had at least one type of soil-transmitted nematode. There was a sig nificantly lower mean count of hookworm eggs for children coming from plantations with good sanitary facilities. For Ascaris and Trichuris, a similar association was observed between the mean egg count and the availability of latrines for children from the low-country plantations , where people live in more scattered settlements, but not in the up-c ountry area, where worker settlements are larger and more crowded. Con gested living conditions in themselves consequently seem to be a major determinant for ascariasis and trichuriasis, and the provision of lat rines and safe water does not substantially change that situation. How ever, improvements of sanitary facilities will probably have a more im mediate effect on the prevalence of hookworm infection.