The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among School-age Children in Ogbese, Ondo State, Nigeria

Aim: Prevalence of human intestinal parasitic infections among school age children in Ogbese town, Akure North,Nigeria was investigated between January and June 2015.

Study Design: This was a prospective cross sectional study. Information about sex, age and other epidemiological habits was collected from all the participating children using standard questionnaires

Methodology: A total of 250 stool samples were examined for human intestinal parasitic infections using standard parasitological method.

Results: Overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 66.8% (167/250). The human intestinal parasites encountered with their prevalence are Entamoeba histolytica (18.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (12.8%), Giardia lamblia (11.2%), Hookworm (10.8%), Schistosoma mansoni (6.4%), Trichuris trichiura (4.4%) and Strongloides stercoralis (2.4%). The prevalence in intestinal parasitic infections was higher in males (37.2%) than their female’s counterparts (29.6%). The highest prevalence of the parasitic infection was recorded in age group 4 – 8 years (27.6%) while those in age group 14 – 18 years had the lowest prevalence (12.8%). Highest prevalence was observed in children that uses bush toilet (48.0%) compared to those that have access to standard toilet facility. Prevalence recorded was higher among children using stream and pond as source of water (42.8%) and have least prevalence in children using tap and borehole as source of water (7.6%). The prevalence was low among children with (clean) cut nail (14.0%) compare to children with uncut nails (52%). The result was statistically significant (p< 0.005).

Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal high prevalence of intestinal parasite among the school children, which is because a greater number of the children defecate openly and do not follow hygiene. E. histolytica was the most common intestinal parasite with highest prevalence in this study. The higher prevalence in intestinal parasite observed among the age 4-8 years school children.