PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTION AND MALNUTRITION AMONG SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTION AND MALNUTRITION AMONG SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2018-04
Authors
SULEIMAN, SOFIA HUSSEIN
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Abstract
The prevalence of parasitic infections and malnutrition in school children from Sabon gari LGA was carried out. Data on demographic characteristics were collected using semi-structured, pretested questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were made using standardized weighing scales and stadiometer respectively according to WHO (2007) guide lines. Body Mass Index (BMI) for age was used as indicator to determine nutritional status. The stool specimens was collected and examined using cheesbrough concentration techniques. With regard to malnutrition, the prevalence (20.9%) was recorded in this study. Severe thinness was (1.0%), moderate thinness was (11.1%), overweight was (8.5%) and obese (0.3%). The degree of malnutrition was higher in girls (21.4%) than the boys (20.4%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). Private school had higher rate of malnutrition (23.0%) than public schools (20.0%) the difference was however, insignificant (p>0.05). The result of stool examination showed that 45(17.0%) of the study subject were infected with parasites and the most frequent were Ascaris, Schistosomiasis and Hookworm among others. The magnitude of infection was higher in girls (18.5%) than the boys (14.7%). Public schools had higher infection rate (13.2%) than private schools (3.8%). There was significant association between the rate of infection and the children’s habit of washing hands after using toilet, washing fruits before eating as well as the last time the children were dewormed. The rate of parasitic infection was not significantly associated with the nutritional status of the children (p>0.05). Based on these results, it was concluded that intestinal parasitic infection is still present among school children in sabongari LGA, of Kaduna State.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTERS DEGREE IN NUTRITION
DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY,
FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
Keywords
PREVALENCE,, INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTION,, MALNUTRITION,, SELECTED PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN,, SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, KADUNA STATE,, NIGERIA