Prevalence, Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practices Regarding Intestinal and Urinary Parasites among Primary School Children in a Rural Community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In developing countries, school age children continue to bear the greatest burden of intestinal parasites and schistosomiasis. This study determined the prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice of preventive measures of intestinal and urinary parasitic infections among primary school children in Ebonyi, Nigeria Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 120 pupils in two primary schools in Igbeagu community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The pupils were purposively selected based on willingness to participate. Data were collected using questionnaires and stool and urine analyses. IBM-SPSS software version 20 was used for data analysis. Chi square test was done at 5% level of significance and 95% confidence interval. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. Results: Mean age of respondents was 11.33±2.46, with majority between 6-13 years (102, 85.0%). There were 66 (55.0%) females and 104 (86.7%) respondents had good knowledge about intestinal parasites. Drinking contaminated water (104, 86.7%), using clean toilets (102, 85.9%) and diarrhea (105, 87.5%), were the most identified ways of transmission, prevention and symptomatology respectively. Overall, 117 (97.5%) had good attitude towards prevention and control of intestinal and urinary parasites. Respondents had good preventive practices against intestinal and urinary parasites with majority washing their hands with soap after defecation (100, 83.3%), and before eating (101, 84.2%). Conclusion: This study reported high levels of knowledge, good attitude and preventive practices against intestinal and urinary parasites. No parasites were found. We recommend that caregivers be targeted for behaviour change interventions as this will augment the positive results already being reported.