Risk Factors and Socio-Demographic Determinants of Intestinal Helminthiasis among Children in Schools that Implemented the Homegrown School Feeding Program in Ekwulobia, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Control of intestinal helminthiasis among pupils improves their nutritional status. This study identified the risk factors and socio-demographic determinants of intestinal helminthiasis among children in primary schools that implemented Home Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP) in Anambra State, Nigeria.
 Methods: Eight hundred and forty-eight consented pupils from Primary (Elementary) classes 1-4 were examined from Community Primary School, Ekwulobia, 270 pupils; Central Primary School, Ekwulobia, 317 pupils; and Nwannebo Primary School, Ekwulobia, 261 pupils. Structured questionnaires were administered to pupils to assess their risks factors for helminthiasis. Fecal samples collected from all pupils were examined using Kato-Katz technique. Data obtained were entered and analyzed using SPSS.
 Results: Of the 848 pupils, 452 (53.3%) were males and 396 (46.7%) were females. Assessment of risk factors associated with transmission revealed that toilet type, hand washing habit, and knowledge of the cause of helminthiasis were significantly (p<0.05) related to transmission; however parent’s occupation and biting of fingernails habits were not correlated with transmission (p>0.05). There was a very low prevalence of helminthes at 0.7% in six stool samples (1 male and 5 females), and prevalence of helminthes was not significantly associated (p>0.05) with pupil’s sex and age. Ascaris lumbricoides were the only helminthes observed in the study population.
 Conclusion and Implications for Translation: The low prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis among the study population may be attributable to efforts of HGSFP that was implemented in the study area. There is need for constant monitoring and surveillance of all public schools and sustenance of the implemented water, sanitation and hygiene practices and HGSFP so that total elimination of helminths could be achievable in the state.
 Key words: Helminthiasis • Home Grown School Feeding • Pupils • Ekwulobia • Anambra State • Nigeria.
 Copyright © 2018 Aribodor et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.