Status of intestinal parasites in inmates of a correctional facility, Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Correctional inmates are among the vulnerable groups to intestinal parasitic infections due to deprived situations characterized by inadequate  facilities, malnutrition, scarce potable water, over-crowding, and poor hygiene. Two hundred and fifty faeces of inmates of Jos Correctional Facility were investigated for the prevalence of intestinal parasites between May and June 2019, using the wet mount and formol-ether concentration techniques. Results obtained showed that from the 250 faecal samples examined, 57(22.8%) were infected with various intestinal parasites. Nine (9) different intestinal parasites identified were Entamoeba histolytica 38.60%), Entamoeba coli (15.78%), Ancylostoma duodenale (4.04%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.53%), Taeniasp (8.77%), Schistosoma mansoni (3.51%), Giardia lamblia (3.51%), Enterobius vermicularis (3.51%) and Trichuris trichuria (1.75%). The 9 different intestinal parasites were grouped into helminthes (42.1%) and protozoa (57.9%). Higher infection rate of 45.6% was recorded among those within age ranges 21-30 years. Inmates who were in prison for <2 years had higher (56.1%) infection rates compared with other inmates (43.9%). The findings are in agreement with similar studies from other penitentiaries in Nigeria resulting in significant health problems among inmates including anemia, malabsorption in the gastrointestinal tract and other complications. Thus, the need to scale up periodic routine examination of all inmates including stool samples, hemogram and the prompt treatment of infected individuals would significantly improve their health conditions.

Keywords: Intestinal parasites; Jos Prison; inmates and prevalence.