Prevalence of hookworm infection among patients attending Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Hookworm infection has been recognized as one of the leading causes of child morbidity in the developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hookworm infection in patients attending Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria. A total of ninety (90) faecal samples were collected and examined microscopically for ova and/or larvae
of the hookworm parasite. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic and risk factors that associate with hookworm infection. The generated data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square. 16.67% of the patients were found to be infected with hookworm, among whom 10% were males and 6.667% females, 2.22% young and 14.44% adults. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between males and females with respect to the infection prevalence. There was a significant (p<0.05) relationship between age and hookworm infection were the lowest prevalence (2.22%) was recorded among the young age. Educational level, wearing of footwear and toilet type used by the patients had no statistical significance (p>0.05) to the infection prevalence while occupation and source of water of the patients had a statistically significant (p<0.05) relationship with the infection prevalence.
The findings from this study could serve as an important information to government organization and other stakeholders interested in disease prevention and control.