Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths Infections Among Public Primary School Pupils in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthes infections among primary school pupils in Ekpoma, Edo State Nigeria. Stool samples were collected from 200 apparently healthy children
between November 2011 and April 2012. The samples were examined for parasitic infections using direct smear examination and formol ether concentration techniques. Results showed an overall prevalence of 24.50% soiltransmitted helminthes infections amongst the sampled population. The various soil-transmited helminths isolated were Ascaris lumbricoides (4%) Hookworm (15%), Trichuris trichuria (0.5%) and strongyloides stercolalis (1%) respectively. Also, 4.0% of the pupils were infected by more than one species of soil-transmitted helminths. The infection was higher among the males (28%), and pupils of age group 6-10 (27.30%). Hookworm infection had the highest prevalence compared to other isolates but the associated differences in age and sex among the infected children were statistically, not significant (p > 0.05). Therefore, the relative high prevalence and diversity of soil transmitted helminthes amongst children in Ekpoma, underlines the urgent need for intervening control measures in the area. Various control measures are suggested and our findings are further discussed.

Keywords: Helminthes, Infections, Primary school pupils, Public health.