Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic helminths among school-aged children from two selected primary schools in Mubi-north L.G.A., Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Infections involving parasitic helminths constitute a major health challenge especially as it affects children from rural and sub-urban communities of developing countries. It is also reported to be an influential cause of morbidity in children of school age who harbour the peak burden and the damaging effect of the worm invasion. Objectives: This was a cross-sectional institutional-based study aimed at investigating the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic helminths from two selected primary schools in Mubi-North LGA, Adamawa State. Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from 150 pupils of Staff Primary School, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, and Mubi I Primary School Lokuwa and were examined for eggs/larvae of intestinal helminths using direct smear and formal ether concentration methods. Results: The results showed an overall prevalence of 22.0% consisting of four species of helminthic parasites which includes Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Taenia solium, and Schistosoma mansoni. Staff Primary School had the highest occurrence of S. mansoni (5.3%), while Mubi I Primary School had the highest occurrence of A. duodenale (10.7%), A. lumbricoides(8.0%), and T. solium (5.3%). On the overall, Ancylostoma duodenale (10.0%) was the most predominant parasite, while the least was T. solium (3.3%). The result of the odd ratio and chi-square (OR=1.263, CI=0.582-2.742, P=0.554) showed that pupils in Mubi I Primary School are 1.263 times more likely to be infected with gastrointestinal helminths than pupils of Staff Primary School, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, but with no statistical difference. The relationship between gender and infection with gastrointestinal helminthic parasites (OR =1.017, 95% CI = 0.456-2.269, P=0.967) showed that females stand a higher chance of being infected with gastrointestinal helminths than their male counterparts, but the difference is not significant. The highest prevalence of A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni was observed among males, while the highest prevalence of Ancylostoma duodenale and T. Solium was observed among females. The age group 8-10 years had the highest prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, but with no statistical difference from other age brackets (P=0.514). Conclusion: Despite low prevalence, there is, the need for urgent development of high-quality preventive and control measures that is compliant with the endemic or highly prevalent communities.