Prevalence of <i>helminthiasis</i> among school children in Oban, Akamkpa L.G.A, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminthic infection is a common public health challenge of primary school children in resource poor and developing countries like Nigeria. The prevalence of intestinal parasites among 200 school children in Oban was carried out between August and November 2021. The investigation was done at St. Michael's Primary School and Early Child Nursery School. The study adopted a cross-sectional, school based, descriptive study. The participants for the study were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Information collected included age, sex, source of drinking water. Results obtained showed that the overall infection rates were 86.72% (i.e., 111 out of 128pupils examined) in St. Michael's primary school, and 90.28% (1.e., 65 out of 72 children examined) in Early Child Nursery School. The children were infected with various parasites. The prevalence of parasites found were as follows: Ascarislumbricoides (57.03%), Trichuristrichiura (32.03%), Hookworm (54.31%) and Strongyloidesstercoralis (16.41 %) in St. Michael's Primary School, Ascarislumbricoides (63.90%), Trichuristrichiura(43.05%), Hookworm (51.38%) and Strongyloidesstercoralis (47.22%) in Early Child Nursery School. Mixed infection with Ascarislumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuristrichiura was observed in six children.It is presumed that poor standard of personal hygiene; insanitary environment and ignorance among other things contributed to the prevalence of these infections amongst children in the community. This calls for radical control measures aimed at the various intestinal parasites.There is need for health education and legislation if the spread of these infections and severe morbidity in infected individuals especially school children must be prevented.