Intestinal Helminths in caregivers working in Orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Health knowledge and health care practices of caregivers are important determinants of quality of care of any child. These caregivers in closed institutions such as the orphanages could be a sourceof environmental contamination and transmission of diseases including intestinal helminthic infections.This study was carried out in caregivers working in orphanages in Benin City and was to determine theirknowledge of helminths, preventive practices against intestinal helminths, prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminthiasis among these caregivers.Fresh stool samples from 27 caregivers in 10 orphanages were analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique for the detection of ova of helminths between January and April, 2011. Of the 27 caregivers, 12(44.4%) had knowledge about helminths and translated helminths (worms)intheir local dialect. One-third of the subject knew at least one way of acquiring intestinal helminths; and 13/27(48.1%)agreed that helminths can be prevented. Prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 7.4%. The infected caregivers were females; ages 20 and 25 years and were residing within the orphanage. Ascarislumbricoides was the only specie of intestinal helminths isolated and intensity of infection was light. Eggs per gram range was 72 – 144; median egg per gram was108. Though the prevalence of intestinal helminths was low in this study, less than half of these caregivers (irrespective of their educational status) have appropriate knowledge of intestinal helminths, its means of transmission and prevention. There is therefore the need to intensify health education on intestinal helminths among caregivers working in orphanages in Benin City.

Keywords: Benin,caregiver, helminthiasis, intensity, orphanage