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