Epidemiology of typhoid fever among Students and Staff of tertiary Education institution

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiology of typhoid fever among students and staff of a tertiary Educational institution. The study was conducted at a Tertiary Education Institution in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, North West Nigeria. It is a tertiary Coeducational institution consisting of students and staff mainly from Northwest Nigeria. Data was collected using a prevalidated modified typhoid and paratyphoid fever questionnaire by considering all possible variables according to information developed on the basis of relevant literature. Four hundred students and 400 staff (all above 18 years) of the polytechnic were drawn using simple random sampling method from a total population of 6222 (sample size calculated using Yamane Method). Quantitative, cross sectional research was conducted to find the determinants of typhoid fever, to also determine whether or not multi-drug resistance to routine antibiotics used in treating typhoid fever exist among the study population, and to develop clinical and public health guidelines for effective management of the disease. The study findings revealed that unsafe drinking water in a form of sachet water is an important vehicle in typhoid fever transmission among the study population. Self-medication and poor vaccination coverage were likely found to be the factors responsible for Multi-Drug Resistance in study samples that show resistance. However, no association was found between the two study groups. At the end of the study, the researcher, with the help of Panel of experts, developed clinical and public health guidelines using Delphi’s technique for effective management of typhoid fever within the study setting.