Incidence of Ascaris infection among primary school children in Ogun State, Nigeria: A generalised linear model approach

Abstract

To estimate the effect of community soil (location) on the incidence and prevalence of Ascaris infection in school children, the model assumptions of the Generalised Linear Model (GLM) in a linear relationship between independent (Xis) and dependent variable (Y), where (Yi)=_i = β₁X_i1 + β₂X_i2, + + βpX_ipwas adopted. Of the 1,519 pupils, 30% (225/759) male and 28% (210/760) female pupils were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides but it was not sex-specific (p>0.05). Male pupils voided higher number of worms (1,090, X = 2.2) than female pupils (879, X = 1.7). Intensity of infection rates was inversely related to body weight of pupils. The model observed a significant probability of <.05 even with an Adjusted R Squared of 0.033. Of the three variables considered, only weight was significant in explaining the variation in the dependent variable (worm count). Thus, it could be inferred that the weight for age of the child is an important indicator for determining the incidence and intensity of ascariasis in school-age children.br>
Keywords: general linear nodel, ascaris, school children, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 29 (1) 2008 pp. 32-37