For Participants
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this study. Your contribution is helping to discover how using drugs that kill gut worms is affecting those worms in the long term. Many countries (including Indonesia and the Philippines) give these drugs to school-aged children – you may have had these drugs before. These drugs kill any gut worms.
These drugs are now being used a lot in many other countries in Southeast Asia and in Africa. Because of this high level of use, there is a worry that the gut worms will start to become resistant to these drugs, so that they won’t kill the worms anymore. If this happens, then it will become harder to kill gut worms in the future.
The study that you have joined – thank you again! – is going to measure how good the drugs are at killing gut worms. The study will also collect some of the worms to analyse their genes to see what genetic changes the use of these drugs is causing.
Your contribution
If you are in Indonesia or the Philippines then there are national programmes giving these drugs to school-aged children. You have joined the study as part of your country’s school programme. In Indonesia this is called the National Deworming Program and Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat or PHBS) initiative. In the Philippines this is called “Sabayang Gamutan Kontra Bulate” (STH Mass Drug Administration).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will be participating?
Only randomly selected participants from sites chosen in each country.
Why are only some people selected?
To get accurate results we will use a random selection of people. This way, the findings represent the whole community without needing everyone to take part.
Do I have to take part in this study?
No, it is entirely optional for you to join the study. If you are very young, your parents or guardians might have given permission on your behalf, so speak to them about this.
What will happen to the samples that I give?
The sample given is very valuable for this study. We will examine the sample using a microscope to look for and count eggs of the worms present in your sample. We will also grow the eggs to larvae and study their genes to find out if the worms are starting to become resistant to drugs used to try and kill the worms.
Why have some people been asked to give more than one sample?
If your first sample shows eggs of worms, you will be asked to give another sample 14-21 days after taking the medicine. This second sample lets us check if the number of worm eggs has gone down and if the medicine worked.
Can you tell me my own results?
Yes. Local staff can tell you if you have any worm infection.
Where can I find out more about gut worms?
There is information about gut worm infections, which are called ‘soil-transmitted helminthiases’ here.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, you can learn more from the Ministry of Health Indonesia (Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia) through the National Deworming Program and Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat or PHBS) initiatives.
More information is available at https://upk.kemkes.go.id/new/cacingan-jangan-disepelekan-ini-penyebab-dampak-dan-cara-mencegahnya, or you can explore more at https://kemkes.go.id/id/kemenkes-kejar-target-eliminasi-ntds-di-indonesia.
For additional information, you can watch the Center for Tropical Medicine, UGM podcast and video at https://youtu.be/kkIblfVqVt8 and https://youtube.com/shorts/_MLMerLnI6M?si=preuX9twjBo5REbu.
Malaysia
In Malaysia you can learn more from the Hospital Orang Asli Gombak (HOAG), which is national reference health center for the indigenous population, among whom gut worm infection is particularly common.
Philippines
In the Philippines you can learn more from the Department of Health and partner agencies through the Integrated Helminth Control Program, which is a comprehensive effort to reduce worm infections nationwide, including biannual deworming activity and WASH in schools, which promotes clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to help prevent reinfection.
Where can I see the results of the study ?
It will take approximately 3 years for us to complete this study. Once we have published our findings we will post the results on this website.
What should I do if I don't feel well after taking the drugs or if I have other questions?
Tell your parents or guardians if you don't feel well. Please also inform the local staff – they are there to help and answer your questions. You can also contact us here:
In the Philippines
Ms. Jennifer S. Luchavez, MScPhilippines Project Leader and Head, Parasitology Department,
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM),
Alabang, Muntinlupa City, The Philippines.
Tel: # 02-8807-2628 to 36, local 254
Email: jennifer.luchavez@ritm.gov.ph
In Indonesia
Prof. dr. E. Elsa Herdiana Murhandarwati, M.Kes., Ph.D.The Center for Tropical Medicine,
FK-KMK UGM Research and Development building, 2nd floor,
Medika St. Senolowo, Mlati, Sleman,
Special Region of Yogyakarta. 55281.
Tel: +62 274 20547 147
Email: elsa.herdiana@ugm.ac.id
In Malaysia
Dr. Arutchelvan RajamanikamJabatan Parasitologi,
Fakulti Perubatan,
Universiti Malaya,
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +60379675734
Email: arun04@um.edu.my
In the United Kingdom
Professor Mark VineyUniversity of Liverpool,
Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
Tel: + 44 (0)151 795 4469
Email: Mark.Viney@liverpool.ac.uk
Is this study ethical?
Yes. The study has been carefully reviewed and received ethical approval before implementation. The ethical permission was obtained from Medical and Health Research Ethics Committee (MHREC) Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada - Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Indonesia; from University Malaya Medical Research Ethics Committee (UMMC-MREC) and National Medical Research Registry (NMRR) in Malaysia, and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine Institutional Review Board in the Philippines.