Associations between consumption of unsafe fish dishes and knowledge about opisthorchis viverrini infection in Southern Laos
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Published:
Dec 29, 2017
Keywords:
Opisthorchis viverrini knowledge unsafe fish dishes Laos health education
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Abstract
Infection by the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, poses a serious public health problem in many areas of the Lower Mekong Basin, where there is a powerful cultural habit of eating unsafely prepared fish dishes. High prevalence of the infection are common in the central and southern regions of the Lao PDR. Attempts to control infection rates have often relied heavily on health education to improve knowledge about the infection. The aim of this cross-sectional analytical study was to test the assumed association between this knowledge and the habit of eating these unsafe dishes in a province of the Lao PDR, where the infection is endemic. The knowledge of randomly selected residents from a large number of villages in Khammouane Province was assessed using a structured interview questionnaire. They were asked about their consumption of various unsafe fish dishes during the past year. Associations between the reported consumption of these dishes and knowledge about Opisthorchis viverrini infection were analysed using logistic regression. Apart from knowing that eating uncooked fish with alcohol does not prevent infection, none of their knowledge was found to be associated with the consumption of these unsafe dishes, and overall, their knowledge was unrelated to the problem. There has been a dearth of studies on this important issue, especially in the Lao PDR, and further research is necessary. However, if the finding are replicated, serious doubts should be raised about the rationale and effectiveness of the current education programmes, and an alternative educational strategy is suggested.
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How to Cite
Saiyachak, K., Bradshaw, P., Tongsotsang, S., Saenrueang, T., & Promthet, S. (2017). Associations between consumption of unsafe fish dishes and knowledge about opisthorchis viverrini infection in Southern Laos. Asia-Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 22(4), APST–22. https://doi.org/10.14456/apst.2017.30
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Research Articles
References
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[31] Kim, C.S., Smith, J.F., Suwannatrai, A., Echaubard, P., Wilcox, B., Kaewkes, S., Sithithaworn, P., Sripa, B., 2017. Role of socio-cultural and economic factors in cyprinid fish distribution networks and consumption in Lawa Lake region, Northeast Thailand: Novel perspectives on Opisthorchis viverrini transmission dynamics. Acta Tropica 170, 85–94.
[2] Schistosomes, liver flukes and Helicobacter pylori., 1994. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lyon, 7-14 June 1994, IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans 61, 1–241.
[3] Sripa, B., Kaewkes, S., Sithithaworn, P., Mairiang, E., Laha, T., Smout, M., Pairojkul, C., Bhudhisawasdi, V., Tesana, S., Thinkamrop, B., Bethony, J.M., Loukas, A., Brindley, P.J., 2007. Liver Fluke Induces Cholangiocarcinoma. PLoS Medicine 4.
[4] Watanapa, P., Watanapa, W.B., 2002. Liver fluke-associated cholangiocarcinoma. British Journal of Surgery 89, 962–970
[5] Andrews, R.H., Sithithaworn, P., Petney, T.N., 2008. Opisthorchis viverrini: an underestimated parasite in world health. Trends in Parasitology 24, 497-501
[6] Poomphakwaen, K., Promthet, S., Kamsa-Ard, S., Vatanasapt, P., Chaveepojnkamjorn, W., Klaewkla, J., Sujirarat, D., Pichainarong, N., 2009. Risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma in Khon Kaen, Thailand: a nested case-control study. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP 10, 251–258.
[7] Songserm, N., Promthet, S., Sithithaworn, P., Pientong, C., Ekalaksananan, T., Chopjitt, P., Parkin, D.M., 2012. Risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma in high-risk area of Thailand: role of lifestyle, diet and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms. Cancer Epidemiology 36, e89-94.
[8] Sithithaworn, P., Yongvanit, P., Duenngai, K., Kiatsopit, K., Pairojkul, C., 2014. Roles of liver fluke infection as risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Sciences 21, 301-308
[9] Aunpromma, S., Tangkawattana, P., Papirom, P., Kanjampa, P., Tesana, S., Sripa, B., Tangkawattana, S., 2012. High prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in reservoir hosts in four districts of Khon Kaen Province, an opisthorchiasis endemic area of Thailand. Parasitology International 61, 60–64.
[10] Sripa, B., Bethony, J.M., Sithithaworn, P., Kaewkes, S., Mairiang, E., Loukas, A., Mulvenna, J., Laha, T., Hotez, P.J., Brindley, P.J., 2011. Opisthorchiasis and Opisthorchis-associated cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand and Laos. Acta Tropica 120, S158-168.
[11] Saengsawang, P., Promthet. S., Bradshaw, P., 2012. Prevalence of OV infection in Yasothon Province. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention 13, 3399-3402
[12] Sripa, B., Brindley, P.J., Mulvenna, J., Laha, T., Smout, M.J., Mairiang, E., Bethony, J.M., Loukas, A., 2012. The tumorigenic liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini--multiple pathways to cancer. Trends in Parasitology 28, 395–407.
[13] Sithithaworn, P., Yongvanit, P., Duenngai, K., Kiatsopit, K., Pairojkul, C., 2014. Roles of liver fluke infection as risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Sciences 21, 301-308
[14] Young, N.D., Nagarajan, N., Lin, S.J., Korhonen, P.K., Jex, A.R., Hall, R.S., Safavi-Hemami, H., Kaewkong, W., Bertrand, D., Gao, S., Seet, Q., Wongkham, S., Teh, B.T., Wongkham, C., Intapan, P.M., Maleewong, W., Yang, X., Hu, M., Wang, Z., Hofmann, A., Sternberg, P.W., Tan, P., Wang, J., Gasser, R.B., 2014. The Opisthorchis viverrini genome provides insights into life in the bile duct. Nature Communications 5, 4378.
[15] Grundy-Warr, C., Andrews, R.H., Sithithaworn, P., Petney, T.N., Sripa, B., Laithavewat, L., Ziegler, A.D., 2012. Raw attitudes, wetland cultures, life-cycles: socio-cultural dynamics relating to Opisthorchis viverrini in the Mekong Basin. Parasitology International 61, 65–70.
[16] Kobayashi, J., Vannachone, B., Sato, Y., Manivong, K., Nambanya, S., Inthakone, S., 2000. An epidemiological study on Opisthorchis viverrini infection in Lao villages. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 31, 128-132.
[17] Sithithaworn, P., Sukavat, K., Vannachone, B., Sophonphong, K., Ben-Embarek, P., Petney, T., Andrews, R., 2006. Epidemiology of food-borne trematodes and other parasite infections in a fishing community on the Nam Ngum reservoir, Lao PDR. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 37, 1083–1090.
[18] Sayasone, S., Odermatt, P., Phoumindr, N., Vongsaravane, X., Sensombath, V., Phetsouvanh, R., Choulamany, X., Strobel, M., 2007. Epidemiology of Opisthorchis viverrini in a rural district of southern Lao PDR. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 101, 40–47.
[19] Phongluxa, K., Xayaseng, V., Vonghachack, Y., Akkhavong, K., van Eeuwijk, P., Odermatt, P., 2013. Helminth infection in southern Laos: high prevalence and low awareness. Parasites & Vectors 6, 328.
[20] Yoon, H.J., Ki, M., Eom, K., Yong, T.-S., Chai, J.-Y., Min, D.-Y., Rim, H.-J., Sohn, W.-M., Insisiengmay, B., Phommasack, B., 2014. Risk Factors for Opisthorchis viverrini and Minute Intestinal Fluke Infections in Lao PDR, 2009–2011. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 91, 384–388.
[21] Feldmeier, H., Hazay, M., Sato, M., Tiengkham, P., Nishimoto, F., Jiang, H., Sopraseuth, V., Moji, K., 2016. Morbidity assessment of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in rural Laos: I. Parasitological, clinical, ultrasonographical and biochemical findings. Tropical Medicine and Health 44.
[22] Saiyachak, K., Tongsotsang, S., Saenrueang, T., Moore, M.A., Promthet, S., 2016. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Opisthorchis viverrini Infection in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP 17, 1589–1593.
[23] Lemeshow, S., Hosmer, D.W., Klar, J., Lwanga, S.K., 1990. Adequacy of Sample Size in Health Studies. England: John Wiley & Sons.
[24 Hsieh, F.Y., Bloch, D.A., Larsen, M.D., 1998. A simple method of sample size calculation for linear and logistic regression. Statistics in Medicine 17, 1623-1634
[25] StataCorp, L.P., 2007. College Station TX: Stata Press. Stata Release 10: User’s Guide.
[26] Ong, X., Wang, Y.-C., Sithithaworn, P., Namsanor, J., Taylor, D., Laithavewat, L., 2016. Uncovering the Pathogenic Landscape of Helminth (Opisthorchis viverrini) Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study on Contributions of Physical and Social Environment and Healthcare Interventions. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 10, e0005175.
[27] Xayaseng, V., Phongluxa, K., van Eeuwijk, P., Akkhavong, K., Odermatt, P., 2013. Raw fish consumption in liver fluke endemic areas in rural southern Laos. Acta Tropica 127, 105-111.
[28] Chaiputcha, K., Promthet, S., Bradshaw, P., 2015. Prevalence and risk factors for infection by Opisthorchis viverrini in an urban area of Mahasarakham Province, Northeast Thailand. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 16, 4173-4176.
[29] Fotuhi, O., Fong, G.T., Zanna, M.P., Borland, R., Yong, H.-H., Cummings, K.M., 2013. Patterns of cognitive dissonance-reducing beliefs among smokers: a longitudinal analysis from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey. Tobacco Control 22, 52–58.
[30] Ziegler, A.D., Echaubard, P., Lee, Y.T., Chuah, C.J., Wilcox, B.A., Grundy-Warr, C., Sithithaworn, P., Petney, T.N., Laithevewat, L., Ong, X., Andrews, R.H., Ismail, T., Sripa, B., Khuntikeo, N., Poonpon, K., Tungtang, P., Tuamsuk, K., 2016. Untangling the Complexity of Liver Fluke Infection and Cholangiocarcinoma in NE Thailand Through Transdisciplinary Learning. Ecohealth 13, 316–327.
[31] Kim, C.S., Smith, J.F., Suwannatrai, A., Echaubard, P., Wilcox, B., Kaewkes, S., Sithithaworn, P., Sripa, B., 2017. Role of socio-cultural and economic factors in cyprinid fish distribution networks and consumption in Lawa Lake region, Northeast Thailand: Novel perspectives on Opisthorchis viverrini transmission dynamics. Acta Tropica 170, 85–94.