Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discussed how the researchers conducted their study to have a
reliable 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 soiltransmitted 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
type of study gathers data, considering one variable at a time, without considering the
interrelationships among variables.

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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
Bay, and west by Calfungal.
Parts of the barangay now served as the home of the Badjao and other tribal
groups since they were relocated from their original houses.
The researchers chose the said barangay as site of the study because of its
feasibility in the conduct of the study, presence of different ethno-linguistic groups, and
availability of pre-school children who served as the respondents.

Population and Sampling Design

The researchers used Purposive Sampling Design. By using this, the researchers
chose the subjects that meets the inclusion criteria for this study.
The participants of the study are the preschool children of Brgy. Bawing, General
Santos City. The criteria for the inclusion of a respondent are: (1) the respondent are aged
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 their
parents and (4) the respondents has submitted their specimen. Any member of the
population who didnt pass any of the said criteria was excluded in the study.

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Preschool Population

Purposive Sampling

Pre-school/Day-care Center

Consent

Consent

No Consent

Excluded

Submitted
Sample

Did Not Submit

Sample

Included

Excluded

Figure 3. Sampling Chart

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Research Instruments
A. Research equipment
1. Equipment for gathering of stool specimen
1.1.

Specimen cup bottle

-

The specimen cup bottle was given to the respondents and served
as containers for the collection of their fecal specimens.

2. Equipment for specimen analysis

2.1.

Kato set
-

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

plastic spatula.

2.2.

Newspaper or glazed tile

-

2.3.

The area where the fecal sample is initially applied.

Microscope slides
-

The microscope slides are used to place the drop of reagent and the
specimen and was viewed under the microscope.

2.4.

Cellophane (soaked in Glycerol-malachite green solution)

-

2.5.

This served as the cover slip of the microscope slides

Glycerol-malachite green solution

-

This chemical was used for the cellophanes that served as cover
slips.

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2.6.

Microscope
-

The microscope is a tool that was used by the researchers to view

the fecal specimens and to be able to identify, in details, the
helminth eggs that was seen.

B. Research tools
1. Helminth identification chart
-

The helminth identification chart is made by the researchers that

guided them in identifying the eggs that they seen under the
microscope.

2. Helminth tally and intensity sheet

-

The helminth tally and intensity sheet is made by the researchers

that monitors the number of respondents positive with any
helminths. This sheet was used by the researchers for their
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 guides the
researchers whether the intensity of an infection is light, moderate
or heavy.

Data Gathering Procedure

Stage 1: Permission (June 26-30, 2014)
1. Permission to use the Medical Technology Laboratory

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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 village captain
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.

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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.

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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 researcherss tabulated the results of the stool analysis
and used the frequency table to determine the most prevalent helminth among preschool
children. The intensity of helminth infection is determined based on the World Health
Organization Intensity of Infection Threshold Table.