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Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
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Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

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Soil-transmitted helminth infection among school-age children in Ogoja, Nigeria: implication for control

Edema Enogiomwan Imalele1, Ekanem Ikpi Braide2, Ubleni Etta Emanghe3

  • 1Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. edemaeddy@gmail.com.

Parasitology Research
|March 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Soil-transmitted helminthiases affect 46% of school children in Ogoja, with higher rates in males and younger children. Poor hygiene and sanitation practices significantly increase infection risk.

Area of Science:

  • * Infectious Diseases
  • * Public Health
  • * Pediatrics

Background:

  • * Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are a significant global health concern, particularly affecting school-aged children.
  • * Understanding the prevalence and risk factors of STH in specific regions is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • * Ogoja Local Government Area in Cross River State has not been extensively studied for STH prevalence in school children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) among school-aged children in Ogoja LGA.
  • * To identify key risk factors associated with STH infections in this population.
  • * To provide data for the development of effective control strategies.

Main Methods:

  • * A cross-sectional study involving 504 school-aged children in Ogoja LGA.
  • * Fecal sample analysis using Kato-Katz and modified Baermann techniques for helminth identification.
  • * Statistical analysis to determine prevalence, infection intensities, and associated risk factors.

Main Results:

  • * Overall STH prevalence was 46.0%, with *Ascaris lumbricoides* (14.1%), hookworm (16.5%), *Trichuris trichiura* (2.6%), and *Strongyloides stercoralis* (12.9%) being the most common.
  • * Infection rates were higher in males (46.6%) and the 5-7 year age group (65.6%).
  • * Significant risk factors included lack of knowledge about STH, unsafe drinking water, open defecation, inadequate sanitation, and absence of school toilets. Co-infection of *A. lumbricoides* and hookworm was most common (8.7%).

Conclusions:

  • * Soil-transmitted helminthiases pose a substantial public health problem for school-aged children in Ogoja LGA.
  • * Interventions must address hygiene, sanitation, access to clean water, and health education alongside preventive chemotherapy.
  • * Targeting younger children and males may be beneficial for control programs.

Keywords:
Ascaris lumbricoidesHookwormNigeriaSchool attendanceSchool-age childrenSoil-transmitted helminths

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