Investigator(s)
| Submitter |
Choden Choden Punakha Hospital, Punakha, Bhutan Choden Choden 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Choden Choden Punakha Hospital, Punakha, Bhutan Choden Choden
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Gaki Lhamo Tsirang Hospital, Tsirang, Bhutan. Gaki Lhamo
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Sonam Phuntsho Tsirang Hospital, Tsirang, Bhutan. Sonam Phuntsho
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Rubina Pradhan Tsirangtoe Hospital, Tsirang, Bhutan. Rubina Pradhan
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Tandin Wangmo Samtse Hospital, Samtse, Bhutan Tandin Wangmo
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Karma Tenzin Phuentsholing Hospital, Chhukha, Bhutan Karma Tenzin
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Samten Wangchuk Department of Acute Medicine, Nobles Hospital, Braddan, Isle of Man Samten Wangchuk
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Yeshi Choden Paro Hospital, Paro, Bhutan. Yeshi Choden
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Tshering Pedon Samdrup Jongkhar Hospital, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan Tshering Pedon
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Manju Tamang Trongsa Hospital, Trongsa, bhutan Manju Tamang
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Sonam Zangpo 10Department of Laboratory Medicine, Punakha Hospital, Punakha, Bhutan Sonam Zangpo
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Kinley Dorji Wangdicholing Hospital, Bumthang, Bhutan Kinley Dorji
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Sonam Wangzin Rabjay Eastern Regional Referral Hospital, Mongar, Bhutan Sonam Wangzin Rabjay
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Thinley Dorji Department of Internal Medicine, Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan Thinley Dorji
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | Proportion of intestinal parasitic infection in stool specimens evaluated at selected hospitals in Bhutan: a cross-sectional study |
| Public title | Stool study |
| Background | Intestinal parasitic infections remain an important public-health concern, particularly in low-and middle-income countries, despite global declines in trend. In Bhutan, combination of factors like improvement in socioeconomic condition and water, sanitation and hygiene and deworming intervention have reduced transmission, yet the current burden at the facility level remains unclear. Understanding current pattern is important to evaluate intervention effectiveness |
| Objectives | This study is aimed at describing the proportion of intestinal parasitic infection in patients undergoing routine stool examination. Among patients tested for stool routine examination at selected hospitals in Bhutan in 01 January – 31 December 2025, to describe the: 1. Sociodemographic profile 2. Proportion of helminth infection (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichuria) 3. Proportion of intestinal protozoa infection (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp.) |
| Study Methods | This will be a cross-sectional study with retrospective review of laboratory data of patients who underwent stool routine examination at ten selected hospitals across the country. All individuals who were tested for stool microscopy between 01 January 2025 and 31st December 2025. Data will be collected using REDCap, hosted at the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu. Data will be exported, and analyzed using STATA (version 18, StataCorp LP, USA). Continuous variables will be summarized using means, standard deviations, median, and interquartile range. Categorical variables will be summarized using frequencies, proportions, and percentages. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | This study will generate the proportion of intestinal parasitic infection in stool samples evaluated in ten selected hospitals. |
| Keywords | Bhutan; helminths; intestinal parasitic infection; microscopy; parasites |
Research Details
| Student research | No |
| Start Date | 01-Mar-2026 |
| End Date | 30-Jun-2026 |
| Key Implementing Institution | none |
| Multi-country research | No |
| Nationwide research | No |
| Bhutan | |
| Research Domain(s) | Communicable Disease Research |
| Research field(s) | Infectious Disease |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Population-Based Survey | |
| Data Collection | Secondary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | Approved |