Prevalence of Human Intestinal Helminthic Infections among School-Age Children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: The study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for intestinal helminth infection among school-age children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study was conducted in two Local Government Areas (Calabar South and Calabar Municipality) in Calabar.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Calabar, from May to October, 2018.
 Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from pupils in sterile dry specimen bottles with the use of applicator sticks and analyzed using sedimentation and floatation techniques. Data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.
 Results: Overall prevalence of intestinal helminth was 18.5%. Parasites recovered were Ascaris lumbricoides (9.3%), Trichuris trichiura (4.0%), Hookworm (2.6%), Taenia solium (0.9), Enterobius vermicularis (0.9), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.4%) and Schistosoma mansoni (0.4%) (P = 0000). Males (22.1%) were more infected than females (14.0%) in the study area (P = 0.031). Prevalence of intestinal helminths was lowest in age group 11-15 years (14.4%) and highest in age group 6-10 years (23.5%) (P = 0.005). After multivariate analysis, source of water [OR=3.355, 95% CI 1.448 – 7.770], type of sewage system [OR=7.547, 95% CI 5.011 – 8.358], hand washing before meal [OR=4.069, 95% CI 1.719 – 9.631] and hand washing after defecation [OR=2.281, 95% CI 1.059 – 4.917] were statistically associated with the detected intestinal helminthic infections in faecal samples (p = .05).
 Conclusion: The presence of these intestinal parasites in these schools is a public health problem and there is therefore a need to prevent these infections by improving individual personal hygiene through health education, general sanitation and provision of adequate social amenities.

Personal Hygiene as a Risk Factors of Helminthiasis Among Primary School Students in Asia and Africa: A Literature Review

“…This is because the hands are a source of germs and bacteria that cause disease if they do not do that behavior, especially before they are eating or after getting to the toilet. Research in Nigeria, where locations in Cross River State with the samples of school-aged children in Calabar, also finds that did not wash hands after from the toilet was associated with a helminth infection (p = 0.028) (41). Research conducted in one of the schools in Sleman Regency, Indonesia named Moyudan Primary School, also reveals that there was a significant association of variable incidence of infection with the behavior of primary school children including not washing hands after defecation (p = 0.007) (45).…”

“…The high prevalence can be due to the long-life period of parasitic eggs, especially the intensity of contact with moist soil can be a medium for the spread of infection in children. Open defecation behavior supports the transmission of intestinal worms (41).…”

“…Of the 63 reported children who did not wash their hands, 13 were infected with one or more larvae species (33). Research in Nigeria, with the research locations in Cross River State with the samples of school-aged children in Calabar, shows that students who did not wash their hands before eating (p=0,000) are more prone to developing intestinal worms than those who wash their hands before eating (41). Research on Medebay Zana Wereda; North Western Tigray, Ethiopia states worms can survive in children's nails and infect through food (42).…”