Prevalence of hookworm infection among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Prevalence rate of hookworm infection among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano, Nigeria was determined between September and November 2009. The procedure involved collecting and processing of stool samples in accordance with standard parasitological techniques. Out of 577 samples collected and processed, 50 (8.7%) were positive for hookworm infection with a peak in those subjects in the age group 21– 30 years (3.3%), followed by 51– 60 years (1.6%) and then 31 – 40 years (1.3%). No case of infection was detected among patients of 71 years and above. This study showed that the prevalence of infection was higher among females (5.7%) than males (3.0%), and significant difference exists in the rate of infection between the two sexes at P = 0.05. The above prevalence rate of infection could become higher in years to come and therefore become more threatening due to increase in birth rate and other socio-economic factors. Consequently, it is suggested that laying emphasis on personal and community hygiene can be achieved through promoting health education in addition to early diagnosis and treatment of the infection will go a long way in checking the spread of this infection in our community especially as it causes maternal death. Keywords: Community health, hookworm, hospital, infection, Kano

Keywords: Herbalism, Phytoch Phytochemicals, Scent, Benin