Abstract

Intestinal helminth infections are prevalent and a matter of public health concern throughout the developing countries of the world. The present survey was conducted to assess the current prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminth infections among pre-school children in Katsina metropolis, Katsina state, Nigeria. A total of 302 children, aged 1-5 years, comprising 52.3% females and 47.7% males were involved in the study. Socio-demographic information of the children and their parents were obtained using a pre-tested questionnaire. Stool sample was collected and analyzed using formol-ether concentration technique. The result showed that 60.3% of the children were infected with at least one species of soil-transmitted helminth parasite. Ascaris lumbricoides (79.1%) was the most prevalent parasite isolated. It is followed by Hookworm (20.4%) while Trichuris trichiura (5.5%) was the least prevalent. Analysis of the possible risk factors associated with the infection among the children showed that, female gender (χ2 = 6.056; P = 0.014) and age group 4-5 years old (χ2 = 22.379; P = <0.0001) were among the main risk factors of infection among the study subjects. Other risk factors identified were, Consumption of untreated water (χ2 = 63.824; P = <0.001) and Geophagy/soil eating (χ2 = 8.217; P = 0.004). Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is thus a common phenomenon among the pre-school children in the study area. Efforts to improve the health status of the children should include regular monitoring, provision of clean water, deworming and awareness campaigns.

Keywords

Katsina, pre-school children, Parasites, Soil-transmitted helminths.

Received on 05/05/2019, Accepted on 23/05/2019, Published on 01/01/1970