Survey of Intestinal Helminth Infection amongst School Children in Rural Communities of Ebonyi State Nigeria

The study on the survey of intestinal helminth infections amongst school children in rural communities of Ebonyi State was conducted in a cross section of ten (10) primary schools in Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State in 2013 to determine the prevalence of infection amongst the scholar population in public schools. Stool samples were randomly collected from five hundred (500) children and microscopically examined using modified direct smear method. The ages and toilet facilities used by pupils were also considered for risk factors indicators. The overall prevalence 389 (77.8%) were infected with eggs, cyst and larvae of intestinal helminth such as Ascaris lumbicoides (46%), Hookworm (28.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (8%), and Trichuris trichiura (13.4%). Thus, multiple infections of A. lumbricoides and Hookworm (3.8%) were also observed. Sex was observed to be a strong factor influencing their prevalence with a significant difference (P>0.05) between the males (46.4%) and females (53.21%). It was also observed that prevalence was high amongst age group 5-8years (55.3%) and 9-12years (28.3%) and low in 13-16years (16.4%) which was statistically significant (P>0.05). Children who used bushed method/Eliliogo (87.5%) as their toilet had higher prevalence than their counterparts with pit toilet (Ohoro-Oko-Mkpume) (61.7%). The study suggests that the use of “ellili-ogo” and “Ohoro-ogo” in the name of toilets exposes them for infection and re-infection. Thus, there is an urgent need for mass deworming and health education in all public primary schools examined as control measures.