PREVALENCE OF INFANTILE PLASMODIASIS AND GEOHELMINTHIASIS IN FOUR HOSPITALS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

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Date
2016-12
Authors
GARBA, RAKIYA
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Abstract
Stool and blood samples were collected from 552 infants in four hospitals in Kaduna metropolis, between October 2013 and March 2014, to determine the status and public health significance of plasmodiasis and geohelminthiasis. Blood samples from four hundred infants (400) were collected and processed using the thin film Giemsa stain technique. Stool samples (152) were processed by the formol – ether concentration technique. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain gender, age and associated risk factors. Overall, 269 (67.25%) of the 400 infants examined were positive for Plasmodium falciparum infection. The prevalence was significantly (p<0.05) higher in female (34.25%) than in male (33.0%) infants. The age group 21 – 24 months had the highest prevalence (17.75%) while the age group 1-4 months had the least (3.0%); the prevalence among age groups was not significantly different (P>0.05). Risk factors inP.falciparuminfection was associated with old age, bushes, pools of water or sewage around homes andnon-utilization of mosquito netwere associated. Of the 152 stool samples examined, the prevalence of geohelminth infection was 32.95%. Ascaris lumbricoides was highest (25.66%) while Hookworm (3.95%) and Trichuristrichiura (3.25%) were the least. Infection was significantly (P<0.05) higher in females (20.39%) than in males (12.50%). Infants between the ages of 21 – 24 months had the highest prevalence(7.99%) while the least was among age group 1 – 4 months (0.67%); the prevalence of geohelminthinfection not significant (p>0.05) and increases with age. Conditions most frequently associated with infection included the well water, pit latrine toilet facilities, poor personal hygiene, and the level of maternal education. The studies showed a relatively high prevalence of Plasmoduimfalciparum and geohelminth infections among infantsandsuggest the need for public education on the effective use of drugs and insecticide treated mosquito bed nets in the control of the diseases.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
PREVALENCE,, INFANTILE PLASMODIASIS,, GEOHELMINTHIASIS,, FOUR HOSPITALS,, KADUNA METROPOLIS,, KADUNA STATE,, NIGERIA
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