Determination of Some Protozoan Agents of Diarrhoea and Their Relation with Socio-Economic Factors and Hygienic Habits in Orphanages in Benue State

Abstract

This research adds to the shortfall in the research on the prevalence status and the actual agents of diarrhoea in the orphanages in Nigeria. This study was to determine the prevalence of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum as agents of diarrhoea in children living in the orphanages in Benue State and to determine the socio-economic factor(s) and hygienic habit(s) responsible for the prevalence of the parasites in orphanages in Benue State. Stools were collected from children (n=128) living in the four orphanages; Children of Mary Orphanage and Motherless Babies Home, Otukpo; Gidan Bege Orphanage Home, Makurdi; Mama Abayol Children’s Home, Makurdi and N.K.S.T Orphanage Home, Mkar. The stools were screened using the Giardia and Cryptosporidium 2^nd Generation ELISA test kits (Diagnostic Automation, Inc.). Cryptosporidium parvum and Gardia lamblia were highly prevalent (43.8%) with 28.9% been Gardia lamblia infection, 9.4% been Cryptosporidium parvum; and co-infection was 5.5%. Mkar orphanage (22/42) and Otukpo orphanage (11/21) had the highest prevalence (52.4%) but with the highest positive cases in Mkar, while the least prevalence (30.0%) of enteric protozoan infection was recorded in Mama Abayol, Makurdi. Socio-economic factors such as age, gender, and sources of water were significantly (P<0.05) associated with the prevalence. While hand washing, an hygienic habit, also had significant (P<0.05) effect on the prevalence. Routine diagnosis of diarrhoeic stool specimens brought to the labouratories should include Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Proper hand washing and good personal hygiene should be encouraged in the orphanages so as to reduce the burden of pathogenic diseases.

Keywords: Diarrhoea; Socio-economic; Orphanage; Benue; ELISA