PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS OF SELECTED SCHOOLS IN BOSSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children in Bosso Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria was investigated in this study. A total of 600 pupils from 10 primary schools comprising 300 males and 300 females were enrolled in the study. A  structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information on the demographic data of children and risk factors for gastrointestinal parasitic infection. The stool was analysed using the formol-ether concentration technique. The overall prevalence was 45.2% (271/600); thirteen intestinal parasitic species were recovered; hookworm had the highest prevalence of 32.5% followed by Entamoeba histolytica; 30.3%, Isospora belli, Giardia lamblia, Paragonimus sp. and Taenia sp. had the least prevalence of 1.6% each. The age-specific prevalence was higher in the age group 5-7years (52.5%) and the least was in the 11-13years age group (38.0%). There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in prevalence in different age groups. Males had a higher prevalence (49.7%) than females (40.7%) and the difference (p<0.05) was statistically significant. The odds ratio revealed an association between the sex of the pupils (OR=1.44), Use of stream water (OR=1.514), use of pit latrine (OR=1.196), and open field defaecation (OR=1.126), history of not deworming at all (OR=1.151) and the extent of acquiring intestinal infection. This study concludes that there is a high prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children in the Bosso Local Government Area and there is a need to step up efforts toward the control of these parasites through improved sanitation and public health education in the schools in particular and the community in general.