Chapter 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discussed how the researchers conducted their study to have a reliabl
e and valid data. This includes the research design, research respondents, research locale,
sampling design, research instruments, data collection process and statistical treatment.

Research Design
The researchers used the descriptive design to describe the prevalence of soil-tran
smitted helminthiasis among the respondents. Descriptive research design or descriptive
qualitative studies, according to Polit and Beck (2004), aims to show a correct illustration
of the characteristics of a certain phenomenon and/or the frequency of occurrence of the
certain phenomenon.
Particularly, the univariate descriptive design was used by the researchers. This ty
pe of study gathers data, considering one variable at a time, without considering the interr
elationships among variables.

Research Setting
Brgy. Bawing or Brgy. Siguel, is located in the city of General Santos. According
to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, it has a total land area of 37,684,388 square meters. It is
bounded to the north by Rajah Beach, south by the Siguel River, east by the Sarangani Ba
y, and west by Calfungal.
Parts of the barangay now serve as the home of the Badjao and other tribal groups
since they were relocated from their original houses.
The researchers chose the said villages as site of the study because of its feasibilit
y in the conduct of the study, presence of different ethno-linguistic groups, and availabilit
y of pre-school children who served as the respondents.

Population and Sampling Design

The researchers used Purposive Sampling Design. By using this, the researchers c
hose the subjects that met the inclusion criteria for this study.
The participants of the study were the preschool children of Brgy. Bawing, Gener
al Santos City. The criteria for the inclusion of a respondent are: (1) the respondent are ag
ed three to six years old on or before the day the study was conducted, (2) the respondent
are enrolled in the pre-school center, (3) the respondent has an approved consent from the
ir parents and (4) the respondents has submitted their specimen. Any member of the popu
lation who didnt passed any of the said criteria was excluded in the study.

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Research Instruments
Preschool Population
A. Research equipment
1. Equipment for gathering of stool specimen
Purposive Sampling
1.1.

Specimen cup bottle

-

The specimen cup bottle was given to the respondents and served
Pre-school/Day-care Center
as containers for the collection of their fecal specimens.
Consent

2. Equipment for specimen analysis

Consent
2.1.

No Consent

Kato set
-

This consisted of the holed-templates, screen, nylon or plastic, and

Excluded
popsicle sticks.

2.2.
Submitted Sa
mple
2.3.
Included

Newspaper or glazed
tileSubmit
Did Not
-

Sample
The area where the fecal sample was initially applied.

Microscope slides
-

The microscopeExcluded
slides were used to place fecal debris filtered by
the screen

2.4.

Green Water Cellophane (soaked in Glycerin)

-

2.5.

Figure 3. Sampling Chart

This served as the cover slip of the microscope slides

Glycerin
-

This chemical served as a clearing agent.

2.6.

Microscope
-

The was used to view the fecal specimens and to be able to identify,
in details, the helminth eggs present.

B. Research tools
1. Helminth identification chart
-

The helminth identification chart was made to serve as a guide in

identifying the eggs seen under the microscope.

2. Helminth tally and intensity sheet

-

The helminth tally and intensity sheet was made to monitor the
number of respondents positive with any helminths. This sheet was
used for the computation of data for the prevalence and intensity of
helminth infection in the community.

3. WHO grading sheet

-

The WHO grading sheet contains the values that guided the
researchers in determining the intensity of the infection.

Data Gathering Procedure

Stage 1: Permission (June 26-30, 2014)
1. Permission to use the Medical Technology Laboratory
2. Permission to conduct pilot testing at Brgy. North addressed to the Brgy. Captain

3. Permission to conduct study at Brgy. Bawing addressed to the Brgy. Captain

4. Coordination with the pre-school teachers and community nurse.
Stage 2: Preparation of Materials (July 1-8, 2014)
1. Printing of waivers
2. Purchasing of materials (Specimen cups, reagents, glass slides, applicator sticks)
Stage 3: Recruitment and Data Gathering (July 11-17, 2014)
1. Ask for preschool children population
2. Asking for consent
2.1.

Explain the study to be conducted

2.2.

Ask for questions

2.3.

Signature

3. Distribution of specimen cups

4. Collection of specimen cups
Stage 4: Laboratory analysis of the specimens (July 18, 2014)
1. Transport to laboratory
2. Stool analysis
2.1. Perform Kato-katz technique:
1. Place a small mound of fecal material on newspaper or scrap paper and
press the small screen on top so that some of the feces are sieved through
the screen and accumulate on top.
2. Scrape the flat sided spatula across the upper surface of the screen to

collect the sieved feces.

3. Place the template with the hole on the center of a microscope slide and
add feces from the spatula so that the hole is completely filled. Using the
side of the spatula pass over the template to remove excess feces from the
edge of the hole.
4. Remove the template carefully so that the cylinder of feces is left on the
slide. Cover the fecal material with the pre-soaked cellophane strip. The
strip must be very wet if the feces are dry and less so if the feces are soft.
5. Invert the microscope slide and firmly press the fecal sample against the
hydrophilic cellophane strip on another microscope slide or on a smooth
hard surface. The fecal material will be spread evenly between the
microscope slide and the cellophane strip.
6. Carefully remove the slide by gently sliding it sideways to avoid
separating the cellophane strip or lifting it off. Place the slide on the bench
with the cellophane upwards.
7. For all, except hookworm eggs, keep slide for 1 or more hours at ambient
temperature to clear the fecal material prior to microscopic examination.
8. Examine the smear in a systematic manner and report the number of eggs
of each species. Eggs counted are then multiplied by the factors
depending on the amount of feces: 20 for 50mg template, 50 for 20mg
template and 24 for 47.1mg template.
9. Determine the type of helminth by referring to the Helminth Identification
Chart (Appendix 5).

10. Record results in the Helminth Tally Sheet (Appendix 6).

3. Validation of Results
-

A registered Medical Technologist validated the results that the

researchers gathered after counting one specimen at a time.

Data Quantification and Analysis (Statistical tools)

After gathering the data, the researchersl tabulated the results of the stool analysis
and used the frequency table to determine the most prevalent helminth among preschool c
hildren. The intensity of helminth infection is determined based on the World Health Org
anization Intensity of Infection Threshold Table.