Prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites among primary school pupils in Abayi, Osisioma Ngwa L.G.A, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasitic infection is one of the neglected tropical disease known to be a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity especially amongst school children in tropical Africa. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among primary school pupils in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area Abia State, Nigeria between the months of March and October, 2015.Prior to the study, consent of parents and guardian of the pupils were sort and approval obtained. A total of 648 pupils aged 5-13 years made up of 324 males and 324 females in primaries one to six had their faecal samples examined. Direct smear and formol ether concentration techniques were the parasitological procedures used for the faecal examination. A total of 281 (43.36%) children were infected. Four parasites were observed namely Ascaris lumbricoides (40.8%), Entamoeba coli (38.9%), Hookworm (17.1%) and Trichuris trichiura (3.3%). Mixed infections were also encountered. The combination of A. lumbricoides and Hookworm was the most common (67.1%). The age group 5-7 years had the highest prevalence (83.33%). More females (46.60%) than males (40.12%) were infected though the result showed a statistically nonsignificant difference. The public schools recorded a higher prevalence (48.46%) than the private schools (38.27%). Infection was highest in pupils in primary 3 (57.41%) (P > 0.05). Pupils whose mothers are farmers recorded the highest prevalence (96.67%). Many of the pupils (65,8%) responded “No” to eating food that fell to the ground. Those who used water closet system type of toilet had more infection (43.85%) than those who used pit latrine (41.67%) (P < 0.05). Infection based on sources of water for drinking and domestic purposes shows that those who used the combination of borehole and harvested rain water were the most infected (56.89%). This study recorded an overall parasitic infections of 43.4%. De-worming of pupils should be made an essential component of school health programmes. Adequate health education is also recommended and proper sanitary measures should be put in place to help reduce to the barest minimum infection awith gastrointestinal parasites in school children.