Intestinal parasites among primary and secondary school children of Egor Local Government Area, Edo State

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among school children of Egor Local Government Area, Edo State. The correlation between their various activities like source of water, type of toilet, method of washing hands with the infection were examined. 250 stool samples of participants consisting of 111 males and 139 females were examined using the formol-ether concentration method. Questionnaires were administered to the children to collect information on Sociodemographic activities. The overall prevalence rate of the various parasitic infections was 16(6.4%), with 6(5.4%) prevalence rate of infection among males and 10(7.2%) among the females. From the study, the age group of 10-13 years old have high rate of infection 13(9.8%) followed by 6-9years old 3(4.4%).Sex did not (p<0.05) significantly affect the pattern of infection (P>0.05) but age affected it significantly The children with Ascaris lumbricoides recorded the highest prevalence rate of 6(2.4%), followed by Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale) infection 3(1.2%); Enterobius vermicularis 2(0.8%); Entamoeba coli 2(0.8%); Schistosoma japonicum 1(0.4%); Strongyloides stercoralis 1(0.4%) and Round worm 1(0.4%). The results further support public education on good personal hygiene and the dangers of open defeacation in fields and water ways.