Hilotina, F. C. A. S. (2017). Intersectoral collaboration strategic plan on heterophyidiasis in Laak, Compostela, Valley (Unpublished master's thesis). Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Graduate School of Public and Development Management. Health Systems and Development. Batch 7 Thesis (MPM-HSD)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

Heterophyidiasis has a low prevalence in the Philippines, but despite the efforts of the Municipal Health Office on proper diagnosis, treatment and continuous health education, the disease is still a re-emerging problem in the Muincipality of Laak. This study looked into the role of aquaculture in the endemicity of Heterophydiasis in Laak. Different fishponds from six barangays were included as units of the study. To determine the distribution of Heterophyidae among the fishponds, snail samples of Malanoides tuberculata, the first intermediate host of Heterophiydae, were collected for presence of heterophyid cercariae. Fishponds survey and Key Informant Interview (KII) of fish farmers were also employed to determine the distribution of the different determinants that could contribute to the endemicity of Heterophyidiasis. Lastly, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was done involving the health and agriculture sectors of the municipality to determine the gaps in each other's program that could contribute to the endemicity of the disease. The collection and study of snails showed that the trematode heterophyidae is distributed to 11.1% of the fishponds. The fishpond survey and KII of fish farmers described the distribution of different determinants that could increase the risk of disease transmission from definitive hosts to snail intermediate hosts, such as presence of livestock and other fish-eating mammals, feeding practices, improper drainage of pig pens, absence of fence around fishponds, non-cemented banks, presence of vegetation and presence of houses around fishponds without toilet facility. Meanwhile, the FGD done with the health and agriculture sector identified gaps in policy, regulation and implementation of programs that could have contributed to the endemicity of Heterophyidiasis. The presence of heterophyid cercariae in fishponds together with the described determinants found among fishponds and fish farmers, complete a very suitable environment to maintain the life cycle of Heterophyidae, hence continue its transmission. The findings of the study showed that the aquaculture setting provides opportunities for additional measures to eliminate Heterophyidiasis. The recognized determinants surrounding fishponds and fish farmers and the identified gaps of each sector are also found to be good basis for creation of intersectoral collaboration strategies to address the disease. Because of the study, intersectoral collaboration strategies were already developed and incorporated to the programs of the Municipal Health Office and the Municipal Agriculture Office to address Heterophyidiasis in the Municipality of Laak.