41. Smith, C. Socioeconomic Status, Drug Utilization and Effectiveness for Helminthiasis in a Palestinian Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip. Jerusalem: UNICEF, 1991: 12 pp.

A survey was conducted of helminthiasis in a Gaza Strip refugee camp comprising 447 children aged 1-120 months. Children of white collar workers were more likely to have been treated for helminthiasis during the six months preceding the study than children of blue collar workers (40% vs. 22%). Children of white collar workers had a lower prevalence rate and mean intensity of infection for both trichuriasis and ascariasis than children of blue collar workers.

However, children for whom treatment was reported within the last 6 months did not have a lower prevalence or intensity of either infection than children who were reported as never treated. The report concludes that the lower prevalence and intensity o f helminthiasis cannot be attributed to differences in medicine use, and that there is strong evidence of inappropriate use of anti-helminth medicines.