Prevalence and Intensity of Soil Transmitted Helminths among School Children in Ifetedo, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the prevalence, intensity and risk factors affecting the transmission of soil transmitted helminthiasis among school-age children in Ifetedo, Osun State, Nigeria with the view to determining the patterns of transmission of the diseases in the area. The study involved stool examination for infective stages of soil-transmitted helminth parasites using some parasitological analysis. Ascariasis, Trichiuriasis and hookworms infection were the only soil transmitted helminthes (STHs) infections observed among the pupils. The overall prevalence of the diseases was 44.2% (175 of 396 pupils). The sex related prevalence showed that males (48.6%) were more infected than females (40.4%). The peak prevalence (45.9%) was recorded among the 6-9 years old age group and lowest (42.4%) among the youngest children (≤ 5 years old age group). Prevalence and intensity of STHs infection did not vary significantly (p>0.05) among the sexes and age groups. The study concluded that factors such as types of toilets in home and presence of human/animal faeces around home environment are risk factors for STHs infections in the area.