Challenges of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Children in Coastal Areas: A Literature Review on Prevalence and Risk Factors
Background: Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPIs), particularly soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), remain a significant burden for children in low-and middle-income countries. Coastal ecosystems that characterized by sandy soil, high water tables, and tidal flooding, present unique ecological determinants that create transmission pathways distinct from inland settings.
Methods: This review synthesizes data from over 50 studies (2000–2025), specifically focusing on coastal settlements, fishermen villages, and tidal flood-prone areas across Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Results: Findings indicate that coastal children face elevated risks, with STH prevalence in Indonesian hotspots reaching 30%–70%. While Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides dominate due to humidity, sandy terrains specifically favor the persistence of hookworms and Strongyloides. Crucially, high water tables and tidal inundation render conventional sanitation (pit latrines/septic tanks) ineffective, causing direct fecal contamination of the environment.
Conclusion: Standard terrestrial sanitation is maladapted to coastal hydrological contexts. Mitigation requires the deployment of amphibious infrastructure, such as the Tripikon-S system and elevated latrines, combined with targeted behavioral change communication to disrupt littoral transmission cycles.