PREVALENCE, INTENSITY AND RISK FACTORS OF SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTH INFECTIONS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SUB URBAN AREAS OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The public health concern for intestinal helminths emphasizes the need for frequent assessment to reduce the burden of diseases particularly soil transmitted helminthiases in school age children. Which threaten their physical and cognitive development, educational attainment and work productivity in later life. The prevalence, intensity and associated risk factors of soil transmitted helminths (STHs) among primary school children in Sub urban area of Ogun State were investigated. Faecal samples from school children aged 5 19 years, enrolled in the study were screened for parasites’ ova/egg and larvae using formol ethyl acetate concentration technique. Out of 517 school children examined, 30.2% harboured Ascaris lumbricoides while 6.2% and 1.2% were infected with hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis respectively. The prevalence and intensity of infection was higher in males (56.6%) than in the females (50.6%) with no significant difference (p>0.05). Prevalence of infections was significantly highest (59.7%) in children aged 5 8years and lowest (40.0%) in age groups 17 19years. Single infection with Ascaris lumbricoides was significantly higher (p<0.05) in age group 5 8years (36.8%) compare to the older age groups (9 12, 13 16, 17 19years) with 32.2%, 16.8% and 0.0% respectively. Co infection of Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm was the commonest (11.6%) multiple infections observed. A significant association between prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides and available water source, parental occupation and sites of defecation was found. The high prevalence of soil transmitted helminths among school age children in this study show the importance of government and non governmental organization intervention and the need for regular educational programme on soil transmitted helminth infections subsequent reduction of transmission risk.