PREVALENCE OF SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS AMONG UNDER FIVE CHILDREN AND ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN SELECTED MATERNAL HEALTHCARE CENTRES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA
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Academic Journal Incorporations
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Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which are common in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China, and East Asia, include soil-transmitted Helminths. Over 1.45 billion individuals are affected on a global scale. Children under the age of six are at a greater risk of contracting Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) infections.This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of STH infections in stool samples obtained from selected under five children in maternal healthcare centres in Ibadan. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence, associated environmental factors of STH infections and identify the types of STH present. A cross sectional survey was conducted among 384 people in two maternal healthcare centers in Ibadan. A total of 100 stool samples were collected between December 2021 and January 2022 from two different locations and parasitological examination of the stool samples were done for the presence of STH eggs using a Kato-Katz thick smear technique. Furthermore, questionnaires which probed into their knowledge of cause, symptoms, predisposing factors to infection, level of hygiene and sanitation of each respondent were administered. The spatial distribution of STH prevalence were determined. The parasitological examination of the 100 stool samples collected showed that 36% were positive for STHs. Parasite types found included Hookworm (Necator americanus (20.9%) and Ancylostoma duodenale (20.6%)), Trichuris trichiura (24.8%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (37.5%). Adeoyo hospital had the highest prevalence of Ascaris (26.1%) while Oni and Sons hospital had the highest prevalence of Trichuris (24.8%). The male gender had a higher infection of Ascaris (52.4%) while the female gender had a higher infection rate of Trichuris (72.7%). There was no statistical relationship between knowledge of STH and infections. The presence of viable STHs eggs/ larvae in soil suggests possible active transmission and high rate of exposure to infective agents among the school children. There is a need for health education on risk associated with STH infection in the environment. The study recommends chemotherapy treatment to control the infection in the study area.
Keywords
Soil, Environmental Factors