Hookworm infection: A severe health problem in periurban community of North central, Nigeria

In sub-Saharan Africa, hookworm infection is one of the most important tropical diseases of humans. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence, intensity and epidemiological factors of hookworm infection in Ogele community of Kwara State. Faecal samples of participants were randomly collected and screened for eggs of the parasite using kato-katz thick smear techniques. Risk factors of infection were investigated with structured pre-tested questionnaires. Of the 471 subjects examined, overall prevalence was 142 (30.1%) with mean egg intensity of 3256.04 epg (95% CI: 2977.68-3534.39). The prevalence and intensity of infection were observed to be age- and sex- dependent (p 40 years age group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that infection was influenced by the nature of occupation (with adjusted odd ratio (OR) of 4.349, 95% CI: 2.585-7.318) educational status of the subjects and their parent particularly mother (with OR of 0.695 CI: 0.317-1.524), toilet facilities (with OR of 1.491, 95% CI: 0.925-2.403), source of drinking water and the presence of bush around the habitation (with OR of 0.410 95% CI: 0.207-0.810). These findings have suggested that the listed risk factors which play a major role in the transmission of the disease need to be taken into account when formulating sustainable control strategies for hookworm and other intestinal parasites in Nigeria and elsewhere.