Soil-transmitted helminth infections among school children in rural communities of Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

We investigated stool samples of primary school pupils in four rural communities of Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State for helminthic intestinal parasites and its intensity. Four hundred and thirteen (413) pupils submitted their samples for examination. The samples were examined by wet preparation, formol ether concentration methods and Stoll's technique to estimate the worm burden of positive stool samples. Overall prevalence of soil transmitted helminths (STH) in the four communities was 41.9%. The ova/larvae of STH parasites detected were hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Strongyloides stercoralis with prevalence of 15.4, 11.3, 8.1 and 7.1%, respectively. Generally, the intensity of parasitic infections among the pupils was moderate. STH infection was more in 15-20 years age groups than those of 5-9 years and 10-14 years. Risk factors that contributed to high prevalence of STH infections among the pupils and methods of control were discussed.