Abstract
Intestinal worm infestation has become a global health problem and still highly prevalent in the tropical region. Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections form the most important group of intestinal worms affecting two billion people worldwide, causing considerable morbidity and suffering, though largely preventable.
 Spatial distribution of helminth infections across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria identified the following helminthes; Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, S. stercoralis, Taenia sp, S. mansoni, S. stercoralis, Enterobius vermicularis and Hymenolopis nana. This study revealed that prevalence of intestinal helminth in the country has not declined since the 1970s. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent helminth in the Southwestern (21%) and South-southern (13%) parts of Nigeria. Hookworm was the most prevalent helminth infection in the Southeastern (19%) while multiple infections were highly prevalent in Northern Nigeria (25% in North-central and 19% in the Northeast and Northwest, respectively). Cases of Taenia sp and Schistosoma mansoni infections were high in the Northeast and Northwest of Nigeria (8% and 6%, respectively).
 Nigeria has benefited from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme for over thirty years in the aspects of enhanced capacity building for applying personal hygiene and sanitation, improved water sources and provision of sanitation facilities and the National Emergency Group for coordination of emergency preparedness and response for WASH-related diseases. WHO estimated that more than 9% of the disease burden and 6% of deaths could be prevented by improving the WASH intervention programme. Children suffer the most, as 25% of global mortality of children (1 month–14 years) was linked with unsafe water and inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene, which was polarized in developing countries. To overcome challenge of WASH-related diseases, improved hygiene practices are essential. It is therefore important to sensitize people on the importance of water and sanitation practices through hygiene education. For effectiveness, hygiene education should be incorporated into the curriculum of schools from primary to tertiary institutions.
Highlights
An intestinal parasite infection is a condition in which a parasite infects the gastro-intestinal tract of humans and other animals
World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 9% of the disease burden and 6% of deaths could be prevented by improving the WASH intervention programme
Intestinal parasitic infections are diseases caused by pathogenic helminths and protozoa species and are among the most common infectious diseases reportedly affecting over 1.5 billion people mostly from the poorest and most deprived communities worldwide
Summary
An intestinal parasite infection is a condition in which a parasite infects the gastro-intestinal tract of humans and other animals. Some types of helminths and protozoa are classified as intestinal parasites that cause infection; those that reside in the intestines These infections come with considerable morbidity among humans. Parasitic infections, caused by intestinal helminths and protozoan parasites, are among the most prevalent infections in humans in developing countries. There are four species of intestinal helminthic parasites, known as geohelminths and soil-transmitted helminths: Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), Trichiuris trichiuria (whipworm), Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanicus (hookworms). These infections are most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the developing world where adequate water and sanitation facilities are lacking [2], [3]
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