Table 2 Attitude and perceived practices towards intestinal helminths among Orang Asli in Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia (n = 215)

Effects of intestinal helminths

 Harmful to peoples’ health

71

33.0

 Beneficial to peoples’ health

1

0.5

 Do not know

143

66.5

Faeces as source of infections

 Yes

65

30.3

 No

9

4.2

 Do not know

141

65.5

Practices

 Hand washing before eating

97

45.2

 Hand washing after defecation

134

62.3

 Wearing shoes when outside the house

169

78.8

 Cutting fingernails regularly

118

54.8

 Washing vegetables before eating

148

68.9

 Washing of fruits before eating

88

41.0

 Boiling untreated drinking water

59

27.4

 Seeking treatment for diarrhoea and abdominal pain from clinic

214

99.5