Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthes among Children in Selected Communities in Monrovia, Liberia

Abstract

The present study was carried out among children below 15 years in 10 communities in Monrovia. Out of the 646 children recruited in the study, 216 (33.4%) were positive for at least one intestinal helminth parasite. Children between 11 – 15 years had the highest prevalence of intestinal helminthes. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common intestinal helminth parasite encountered (79.6%), followed by Trichuris trichura (19.0%). Strongyloides stercoralis and Enterobius vermicularis were the least prevalent helminth parasites encountered among the study population (1% each). The population in these communities depended largely on poorly built latrines and buckets for faecal disposal although some (49%) used flush toilets despite their being in poor conditions. Only 23.45 of the 646 children surveyed used pipe borne water for drinking and other domestic purposes. The high prevalence rates of helminth infection obtained could be due to persistent infection and re-infection of the study population as a result of the constant seeding of the soil with parasite eggs and larvae in these communities.

Keywords: Prevalence, Intestinal helminth, Children, Liberia