Prevalence of soil transmitted helminthiasis among school-aged children attending formal and non-formal schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil transmitted helminthiasis is one of the most prevalent infections globally as about 24% of the world population are thought to be afflicted with it, affecting the most impoverished and disadvantaged groups that have limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. The aim of this work was to assess the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections (STH) among school-aged children attending formal and non-formal school settings in Hotoro Quarters. Nasarawa LGA, Kano State. A total of 274 school-aged children were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were administered and stool samples taken from the sampled study participants and examined for STH infections in Unguwa Uku Primary Healthcare Facility laboratory using Kato-Katz detection technique. The results revealed 83.6% overall prevalence of STHs. There were three species of STH recovered; Ascaris lumbricoides (67.2%), Hookworms (47.5%) and Trichuris trichiura (41.6%), with A. lumbricoides as the most prevalent. Triple co-infection with all the three species among 36 participants was recorded, representing 13.14% prevalence. Overall prevalence of STHs and that of Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworms and Trichuris trichiura, were more prevalent among school-aged children of Non-formal schools among male pupils, particularly in Hotoro North Non-formal Schools. There was a significant association between prevalence of infection and gender, age, type of house occupancy as well as school type. Abdominal pain, perianal itching and diarrhoea were some of the significant clinical manifestations and contact with soil, having untrimmed nails, eating unwashed fruits and vegetables and keeping unwashed hands as the major risk factors. It was recommended among others that there should be more efforts by the government to promote awareness and enlightenment on ways of spreading STHs and preventing it by engaging all stakeholders.