Risk Factors Linked With Soil Transmitted Helminth Infections amid Children in Households in a Coastal Community in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections are the most common infections of humankind, which are disability-inducing and poverty-promoting. Children in rural areas are particularly at risk of STH infections due to lack of proper toilet facilities. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and linked risk factors of STHs in children in a coastal community of Ondo State. Faecal samples were collected from 484 children from 315 purposively selected households in a coastal community from April 2023 to September 2023 and screened for helminth egg using modified Kato Katz method to determine prevalence (%) and intensity (egg per gram of feaces). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi-square at P<0.05. Parasite eggs found were from Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichiuris trichiura and hookworms with a prevalence of 46.7%, 23.6% and 7.9%, respectively. Majority (78.1%) of the children examined were infected. Number of infected children in households with >7 members (221) were significantly higher than number infected in households with <7 members (121). Most infected children, 80.4% and 78.8% had no access to potable water and standard toilet facilities, respectively. A high percentage (78.8%) of the children that had close contact with domestic animals/pets were infected. Prevalence among children that defecate indiscriminately that do not wash their hands before eating and that do not wash their hands after defecation were 54.5%, 50.8% and 42.6%, respectively. These risk factors were significantly associated with STH infections. The prevalence of soil transmit-ted helminth is high among the children in examined coastal community. Inaccessibility to potable water and toilet facilities, family size, close contact with domestic animals and indiscrimi-nate defecation increased the risk of soil transmitted helminth infections.