Factors associated with ascariasis among pre-school aged children in Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria

Abstract

The risk factors predisposing children to ascariasis transmission in a peri-urban community of Osun state, Nigeria were investigated from November, 2012 to June, 2013. Preschool children aged 24 to 60 months were tested by faecal examination for Ascaris lumbricoides infection using Kato thick smears after information on personal biodata, access to water supply, sanitation, socio-economic status of their parents, hygiene and deworming history was collected using a questionnaire. Out of 416 children examined, 117(28.1%) were infected with an overall mean intensity of 1846.33±235.23 eggs per gram (epg). Infection patterns were gender comparable and age dependent with peak prevalence (33.1%) and mean intensity (2264.14±493.58 epg) occurring in children aged 48 to 59 months. Parental educational background, sanitation, washing hands with soap and water and deworming history were identified as the significant risk factors which correlated with Ascaris infection. These findings suggest that socio-economic risk factors which play a role in disease transmission need to be taken into account when formulating sustainable control strategies for ascariasis and other soil-transmitted helminths in Nigeria. Key words: Prevalence, ascariasis, risk factors, preschool aged children, Nigeria.