Intestinal Helminthiasis among School Children in Ilie, Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

A cross sectional study of intestinal helminthiasis among school pupils was undertaken in three primary schools in Ilie in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of helminthic infections. The relationship between intestinal helminths and anthropometric indices and the factors that could favour the infection were also studied. Faecal samples from three hundred and four (304) randomly selected out of the four hundred and seven (407) school children in the study area were collected and analysed with the semi-quantitative Kato Katz technique and concentrated method. The intensity of infection was classified into light, moderate or high according to World Health Organisation (WHO) thresholds. The overall prevalence rate was 52.0% while five species of intestinal helminths were identified. Ascaris lumbricoides (36.2%) was the most common, followed by Hookworm (10.5%), Schistosoma mansoni (4%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.7%). Multiple helminthic infection were recorded with Ascaris-Hookworm (6.58%) having the highest prevalence among the children. Female (56.6%) were more infected than male (46.4%) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0019). Seventeen percent (17%) of the children were below the third percentile for weight (wasted) while fourteen percent (14%) were below the third percentile for height (stunted). There was a relationship between intensity of infection and wasting since there were fewer underweight pupils (13%) with normal stool than those moderately infected (35%) (P<0.05). There was statistically significant association between type of latrine use and prevalence of infection; and also between water treatment and infection. Periodic surveillance of school children for intestinal helminthiasis should be part of the public health activities while periodic deworming programme should be done routinely as this would reduce intensity of intestinal worm infection among school children.

Prevalence and Intensity of Soil Transmitted Helminths among School Children in Ifetedo, Osun State, Nigeria

“…This was probably due to contamination of soil with faecal material. Similar studies reported such agents being responsible for transmission of helminths parasites [15][16][17][18]. The significant association between the presences of human/animal faeces in the vicinity of homes is of great concern and indicates a need for regular environmental sanitation and inspection of in the study area.…”

Water Resource, Hygienic Practice, and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis in Some Rural Communities of Osun State, Nigeria

“…Other reasons for the disparities in prevalence between both categories of communities could be related to educational attainment status, standard of personal and environmental hygiene and probably social habits [22]. Our findings shows that knowledge, attitude, and practices associated with STH transmission between communities with full and part implementation of WASH intervention was poor.…”

Prevalence of intestinal helminths and associated factors among school children of Medebay Zana wereda; North Western Tigray, Ethiopia 2017

“…In Ethiopia, intestinal helminths are resulted from poor environmental sanitation, unsafe human waste disposal systems, lack of safe water supply and low socio-economic status of the country [13–18]. The main reason for their persistent presence everywhere is due to frequently low rank in the list of priorities in public health programs because the effect of helminthic infections are not directly measured explicitly in terms of mortality figures [19].…”