Studies on the Intestinal Helminths Infestation among Primary School Children in Gwagwada, Kaduna, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

A study on prevalence of intestinal helminthes among primary school children was carried out in Gwagwada, Kaduna, North-western Nigeria. Out of the 283 school children examined for infection, 190 (67.1%) were found to be positive. The prevalence of intestinal helminthes found were Ascaris lumbricoides (30.7%), Taenia spp (23.0%), Schistosoma mansoni (11.7%), Hookworm (6.4%), Trichuris trichiura (4.9%), Enterobius vermicularis (4.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis (4.2) and Hymenolepis nana (3.9%). There was no significant association between helminthes infection and sex (p>0.05). There was no significant association between prevalence and the habits of washing hands after using the toilet and the washing of fruits and vegetables before eating ((95% C.I. < 1.0). S. mansoni infection had significant association the use of streams as source of drinking water (95% C.I. > 1.0). Ascaris lumbricoides has very high prevalence among primary school children. Sex has no association with infection of helminthes.

Keywords -Intestinal helminthes, school children, prevalence, Gwagwada Nigeria)