Table 1 Prevalence and distribution of IPIs among the Temuan and Mah Meri sub-ethnic groups

Overall IPIs

145 (78.0)

71.5–83.3

81 (76.4)

67.5–83.5

64 (80.0)

70.0–87.3

Helminth infections

  Trichuris trichiura

130 (69.9)*

63.0–76.0

68 (64.2)

54.7–72.6

62 (77.5)

67.2–85.3

  Ascaris lumbricoides

25 (13.4)*

10.2–23.6

8 (7.5)

3.9–14.2

17 (21.3)

13.7–31.4

 Hookworm

48 (25.8)*

20.1–32.5

36 (34.0)

25.7–43.4

12 (15.0)

8.8–24.4

Protozoan infections

  Giardia sp.

21 (11.3)

7.5–16.6

15 (14.2)

8.8–22.0

6 (7.5)

3.5–15.4

  Entamoeba spp.

11 (5.9)

3.3–10.3

8 (7.5)

3.9–14.2

3 (3.8)

1.3–10.5

Types of parasitism

Monoparasitism

  Trichuris trichiura

62 (33.3)

30.0–40.1

26 (24.5)

17.3–33.5

36 (45.0)

34.6–55.9

  Ascaris lumbricoides

1 (0.5)

0.1–3.0

–

–

1 (1.3)

0.2–6.8

 Hookworm

7 (3.8)

1.8–7.6

6 (5.7)

2.6–11.8

1 (1.3)

0.2–6.8

  Giardia duodenalis

2 (1.1)

0.3–3.8

2 (1.9)

0.5-6.6

–

–

  Entamoeba spp.

3 (1.6)

0.6–4.6

3 (2.8)

1.0–8.0

–

–

Total single parasitic infections

75 (40.3)

33.5–47.5

37 (34.9)

26.5–44.4

38 (47.5)

36.9–58.3

Polyparasitism

Two parasites

  T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides

11 (5.9)

3.3–10.3

3 (2.8)

1.0–8.0

8 (10.0)

5.2–18.5

  T. trichiura and hookworm

25 (13.4)

9.3–19.1

21 (19.8)

13.3–28.4

4 (5.0)

2.0–12.2

  T. trichiura and Entamoeba spp.

5 (2.7)

1.2–6.1

3 (2.8)

1.0–8.0

2 (2.5)

0.7–8.7

  T. trichiura and Giardia sp.

8 (4.3)

2.2–8.3

6 (5.7)

2.6–11.8

2 (2.5)

0.7–8.7

  A. lumbricoides and Entamoeba spp.

1 (0.5)

0.1–3.0

1 (0.9)

0.2–5.2

–

–

 Hookworm and Giardia sp.

1 (0.5)

0.1–3.0

1 (0.9)

0.2–5.2

–

–

Total with two parasites

51 (27.4)

21.5–34.2

35 (33.0)

24.8–42.4

16 (20.0)

12.7–30.1

Three parasites

  T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides and hookworm

8 (4.3)

2.2–8.3

3 (2.8)

1.0–8.0

5 (6.3)

2.7–13.8

  T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides and Giardia sp.

3 (1.6)

0.6–4.6

–

–

3 (3.8)

1.3–10.5

  T. trichiura and Entamoeba spp. and Giardia sp.

1 (0.5)

0.1–3.0

1 (0.9)

0.2–5.2

–

–

  T. trichiura and hookworm and Giardia sp.

5 (2.7)

1.2–6.1

4 (3.8)

1.5–9.3

1 (1.3)

0.2–6.8

  T. trichiura and hookworm and Entamoeba spp.

1 (0.5)

0.1–3.0

–

–

1 (1.3)

0.2–6.8

Total with three parasites

18 (9.7)

6.2–14.8

8 (7.5)

3.9–14.2

10 (12.5)

6.9–21.5

Four parasites

  T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides and hookworm and Giardia sp.

1 (0.5)

0.1–3.0

1 (0.9)

0.2–5.2

–

–

Total with four parasites

1 (0.5)

0.1–3.0

1 (0.9)

0.2–5.2

–

–

Overall polyparasitism

70 (37.6)

31.0–44.8

44 (41.5)

32.6–51.0

26 (32.5)

23.2–43.4