Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Food vendors in Purok 1,Barangay Matina Gravahan, Davao City

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs statesthat food is an essential physiological need. Foodconsumption is indeed vital, and food safety must always be observed. However, 600million cases of food borne diseases such as parasitic infections are caused by unsafe food consumption. Thirty food vendors selling in Purok 1, Barangay Matina Gravahan, Davao City were examined for parasitic intestinal infections utilizing their stool samples. Among these participants, only one participant aged younger than 20 years while fifteen, six, five, and three are distributed in 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, and >51 age ranges, respectively. There were fifteen males and fifteen females who participated in the study. There were no parasitic eggs found in the samples of these participants, which indicates zero prevalence. This finding may be interpreted as a good indication that these food vendors have good hygienic and sanitary practices. Moreover, 75% of food stalls and establishments were sampled in this study indicating a lesser risk of intestinal parasitic food borne transmission