PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN BOSSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN BOSSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2015-05
Authors
AUDU, DANLADI PASSI
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Abstract
This study was conducted between November, 2013 and March, 2014 to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among primary school children in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Six hundred pupils from 10 Primary Schools in 10 political wards were enrolled for the investigation. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information on the risk factors. The formol ether concentration technique was used in the analysis of the stool samples. An overall prevalence of 45.2% was recorded. A total of 13 species of intestinal parasites were recorded in this study. This includes Hookworm, Entamoeba histolytica, Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Schistosoma mansoni, Entamoeba coli, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana and Trichuris trichiura with respective prevalence rates of 32.5%, 30.3%, 11.7%, 4.7%, 4.1%, 3.5%, 3.15%, and 1.9%. Isospora belli, Giardia lamblia, Taenia species and Paragonimus species were each recorded in 5 pupils (1.6%). The highest prevalence of 51.7% was recorded in Bosso central 2 ward, followed by Kodo primary school 50.0% while the least prevalence of 38% was recorded in Chanchaga primary school. There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence rates in the ten schools. There were 44(16.2%) and 2(0.7%) cases of double and triple infections. The 5-7 years age group had the highest prevalence of (52.5%), followed by the 8-10 years age group (40.5%), and then the 11-13 years age group (38.0%). Sex-specific prevalence was higher in males (49.7%) than females (40.7%). There was statistically significant difference between the prevalence in males and females. Odds ratio of 1.44 showed association between the sex and the infection. Odds ratio greater than 1 showed significant associations between prevalence of the infection and risk factors such as use of stream water, (odds ratio1.51), pit latrine and bush, (odds ratio1.196 and 1.126 respectively). Lack
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of de-worming of children, (odds ratio 1.15) and history of blood in stool, (odds ratio 1.76) showed association with the infection. The study showed that poor sanitary conditions, inadequate potable water supply, lack of personal hygiene education and lack of de-worming of children enhanced the spread of intestinal parasitic infection. The results suggest the need for mass public health education on personal hygiene practices in the communities, large scale de-worming campaigns in all primary schools in the area to be extended to the host communities. Children should be taught regular personal hands washing because they easily get contaminated in daily life and the pathogens are easily transferred to other surfaces.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL BIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA,
NIGERIA.
Keywords
PREVALENCE,, GASTROINTESTINAL,, PARASITES,, PRIMARY SCHOOL,, CHILDREN,, BOSSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, NIGER STATE,, NIGERIA