Soil Transmitted Helminths; Prevalence, Perception and Determinants among Primary School Children in Rural Enugu State, Nigeria
Journal Title: International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health - Year 2016, Vol 15, Issue 1
Abstract
Aim: The study was to explore parents knowledge and practice of deworming as well as prevalence of soil transmitted diseases and potential benefit of deworming among primary school children. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Selected public primary schools in Enugu state, Nigeria, between January and June 2013. Methodology: Pupils and their parents eligible for voluntary participation were selected and studied. Parents were interviewed using questionnaires. Pupils stool were analyzed at baseline and after 3 months following deworming. Level of significance was at p ≤ 0.05 Results: It was based on 859 pupils and 410 parents. The mean age of pupils was 9.50±2.10. Males > females. The mean age of parents was 30.47±5.47. Farming 166 (40.49) and trading 120 (29%) were their predominant occupation. At baseline 220 (25.6%) of the pupil were infected; Ascariasis 111 (12.95%), hookworm 42 (9.7%), mixed infection 9 (4.1%) and protozoa 20 (2.4%). Three months following deworming 24 (2.8%) were infested; Ascariasis 9 (1.0%), and hookworm 8 (0.9%), protozoa 8 (0.9%). There was no mixed infection detected. There was a significant difference in worm infestation at baseline and at 3 months following deworming (p <0.001). Majority of their parents have heard of worm infection 364 (88.8%), knew about deworming 261 (63.7%), knew abdominal discomfort 247 (67.9%) and eating without gaining 191 (52.5) as features of worm infection, stated that worm infection can be contracted by walking barefoot 89 (24.5%) and through eating sweet foods 158 (43.3%). About 27 (13.5%) stays over a year before deworming their children. There was no significant association between socio-demographic variables of pupils, their parents, mean knowledge and practice of deworming with worm infection in pupil. Conclusion: Knowledge and practice on worm infection and deworming were fairly good among the respondents studied. Prevalence of worm infection in this study was low. Deworming marginally reduced worm infection.
Authors and Affiliations
Elias Chikee Aniwada, Nwachinemere Davison Uleanya, Lawson Nwokedi Igbokwe, Chika Onwasigwe
Keywords
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- EP ID EP328859
- DOI 10.9734/IJTDH/2016/24501
- Views 51
- Downloads 0
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