Abstract :
Infections caused by soil-transmitted helminths and stunting in children under the age of five remain a public health concern in low-income countries with inadequate sanitation and hygiene and low levels of education and income, including Indonesia. This research focuses on describing the incidence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection in stunted toddlers based on demographic characteristics, disease history, anthropometric status, and the application of a clean and healthy lifestyle. Research methode was descriptive study and carried out in the Ngagel Rejo Public Health Center Surabaya, East Java-Indonesia, on the total population of stunting toddlers (n=23). STH infection data were collected by examining the feces of stunting toddlers using direct’smear methode with 10% eosin preparation anthropometric data was collected by measuring height per age using microtoise and demographic data, history of illness, and application personal hygiene were collected by conducting interviews and filling out questionnaires for parents/mothers/caregivers of stunting toddlers. The findings revealed that 30.43 % of stunting toddlers were infected with STH (A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura), girls were more infected than boys, and the 37 – 48 months age group was the most infected with STH. There is a history of illness in the previous three months in stunting toddlers and a lack of handwashing before eating and after defecating. STH is prevalent in stunted toddlers, and ongoing health promotion is required to break the chain of STH transmission.
