Soil-transmitted helminthiasis among school-aged children in selected primary schools in southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Femi Awotokun; Oluyomi Abayomi Sowemimo; Ruqayah Olawoyin; Ashiat Alaba Adeleke

doi:10.15566/cjgh.v11i1.833

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis among school-aged children in selected primary schools in southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Christian Journal for Global Health

Volume 11 (2024): Issue 1

By: Femi Awotokun , Oluyomi Abayomi Sowemimo, Ruqayah Olawoyin and Ashiat Alaba Adeleke

Open Access

|Feb 2024

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection of soil-transmitted helminths among school-aged children in Ife Central and Ife East Local Government Areas, Osun State, Nigeria.

Fresh stool samples were collected from 324 pupils, comprising 162 males and 162 females (aged 5-12 years). The preserved fecal samples were processed using a modified Kato-Katz technique. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Of the 324 fecal samples examined, 79 (24.4%) tested positive for helminth eggs. The eggs were identified as Ascaris lumbricoides, with a prevalence of 22.2%, and hookworm; with a prevalence of 3.7%. Double infections were observed in 5 (1.5%) pupils. Private schools had a slightly higher prevalence (24.7%) than did public schools (24.1%). Sex-related prevalence was higher among males (25.9%) than females (22.8%), and no significant difference existed in the prevalence level between the sexes (p > 0.05).

This study concluded that STH infection remains a public health risk among children in the study area.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v11i1.833 | Journal eISSN: 2167-2415

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Language: English

Page range: 91 - 98

Submitted on: Jul 25, 2023

Accepted on: Feb 10, 2024

Published on: Feb 25, 2024

Published by: Global Health Institute at William Carey International University

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

School-aged children,

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH),

Primary School

© 2024 Femi Awotokun, Oluyomi Abayomi Sowemimo, Ruqayah Olawoyin, Ashiat Alaba Adeleke, published by Global Health Institute at William Carey International University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 11 (2024): Issue 1