Prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated risk factors among primary school children in Uyo Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections have become a global public health, and this burden is even higher among children in primary schools. Therefore, the study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic  infection  among primary school children in both public and private schools in Uyo urban was investigated. A cross sectional parasitological study consisting of 2000 school children 1000 each from five private and five public primary schools was carried out in Uyo metropolis. Structured questionnaire was used to obtained data on associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infection. Microscopic examination of stool specimen of children by wet mount and formol either concentration technique was used for parasitological analysis of faecal samples. The results implicate poor toilet facilities, contamination of sources of drinking water, poor environmental sanitation and children attitude of playing bare footed and poor personal hygiene as the major risks factors. The overall prevalence of 952 (47.6%) was recorded with 342 (34.2%) from private school and prevalence of 610 (61.0%) from public school out of 1000 pupil examined from each group of schools. The most dominance parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (10.5%) Guardia intestinalis (8.9%) Ancyclostoma duodenales (8.9%) Entamoeba histolystica (10.5%) Trichuris trichuira (10.9), E coli (3.0%) Enterobius vermicularis (2.4%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (2.1%). There was corresponding decrease in infection rate as the age increase. There is an urgent need for government and school authorities to create and maintain better sanitary and toilet facilities in school.