Science Journal of Public Health

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Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Primary School Children in Three Geopolitical Zones of Imo State, Nigeria

Received: 13 June 2015    Accepted: 13 September 2015    Published: 27 October 2015
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Abstract

A study of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was conducted among children aged 5-16years in primary schools in rural parts of Imo State, Nigeria. Of the 337 faecal samples examined, 164 (48. 7%) harboured intestinal parasites with 65 (40. 4%) being from Orlu zone, 57 (52. 7%) from Owerri zone, and 42 (61. 8%) from Okigwe zone. The parasites identified were Ascaris lumbricoides (41. 5%), Hookworm (23. 8%), Trichuris trichiura (1. 2%), Teania spp (1. 2%), Entamoeba histolytica (36. 6%), and Giardia lamblia (1. 8%). Among the helminthes, A. lumbricoides (60. 0%) occurred highest among the age bracket of 14-16years, while E. histolytica (44. 4%) was the highest occurring protozoan parasite among children aged 5-7 years. Generally, prevalence of infection decreased with increasing age of children, and more females (53. 9%) than males (48. 1%) were infected. However, there was no statistical significant difference in infection with relation to age and sex of the pupils (p>0. 05). Intestinal parasitic infection is reduced through improved personal hygiene and environmental sanitation as children with high standard of hygiene were found to be less prone to parasitic infection.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.15
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 5-1, September 2015)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Who Is Afraid of the Microbes

Page(s) 25-28
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Prevalence, Intestinal Parasites, Children, Infection, Geopolitical Zones

References
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[3] WHO, “Report on Intestinal Helminths Infection in World Health Organization,” Technical Report Series: 2002, vol. 789: 345-356.
[4] J. I. Mbanugo, and O. C. Abaziri, “A Comparative Study of Intestinal Infection of Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Woman in Nkpor, Anambra State, Nigeria,” Nigeria Journal of Parasitology, 2002, vol. 23: 19-26.
[5] J. U. Udensi, and F. N. Opara, “Waste to Wealth: An Approach to Environmental Waste Management,” International Journal of Environmental Health and Human Development, 2011, vol. 12, pp. 66-70.
[6] M. Cheesbrough, “Intestinal Nematodes: In District Laboratory Practices in Tropical Countries,” Part 1 (Low Price edition). Cambridge University Press: New York, 2006, pp. 182-215.
[7] WHO, “Training Manual on Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasites,” Geneva. 2007, http: //www. who. int/wormcontrol/documents/ bench aids/training-manual/e
[8] L. Gracia, “Practical Guide to Diagnostic Parasitology,” American Society for Microbiology, 2009, pp. 246-247.
[9] F. N. Opara, and B. E. B. Nwoke, “Research Technique in Biological and chemical Science: Techniques in Parasitology,” Springfield Publishers Ltd, Nigeria, 2003, pp. 190-191.
[10] O. A. Adeyeba and A. M. Akinlabi, “Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among School Children in a Rural Community, South West Nigeria,” Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, 2002, vol. 23, pp. 11-18.
[11] J. I. Mbanugo, and C. J. Onyebuchi, “Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Ezinifite Community, Aguata L. G. A. Anambra State,” Nigeria Journal of Parasitology, 2002, vol. 23, pp. 27-84.
[12] O. M. Ukpai and C. D. Ugwu, “Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Tract Parasites in Primary School Children in Ikwuano L. G. A. Abia State, Nigeria,” Nigeria Journal of Parasitology, 2003, vol. 25, pp. 129-136.
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[15] S. O. Sam-Wobo, C. F. Mafiana, and A. B. Idowu, “Re-infection Patterns of Ascaris Among School and Children in Ogun State, Nigeria,” Nigerian Journal of Paraitology, 2004, vol. 25, pp. 7-14.
[16] R. M. Mordi and O. Paul, “A Study of Blood and Gastro-intestinal Parasites in Edo State,” African Journal of Biochemistry, 2007, vol. 6, pp. 2201-2207.
[17] J. Bethany, S. Brooker, M. Albinico, L. A. Geiger, D. Deitmert, and P. J. Hotez, “Soil Transmitted Helminths Infection Ascariasis, Trichiuriasis and Hookworm,” Lancet, 2006, vol. 367, pp. 21-32.
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Author Information
  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Biology Department, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

  • Biology Department, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

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    Udensi Justina Ugochi, Mgbemena Ifenyinwa C., Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma, Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson, Awurum Ivy Nwaku. (2015). Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Primary School Children in Three Geopolitical Zones of Imo State, Nigeria. Science Journal of Public Health, 3(5-1), 25-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.15

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    ACS Style

    Udensi Justina Ugochi; Mgbemena Ifenyinwa C.; Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma; Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson; Awurum Ivy Nwaku. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Primary School Children in Three Geopolitical Zones of Imo State, Nigeria. Sci. J. Public Health 2015, 3(5-1), 25-28. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.15

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    AMA Style

    Udensi Justina Ugochi, Mgbemena Ifenyinwa C., Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma, Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson, Awurum Ivy Nwaku. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Primary School Children in Three Geopolitical Zones of Imo State, Nigeria. Sci J Public Health. 2015;3(5-1):25-28. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.15,
      author = {Udensi Justina Ugochi and Mgbemena Ifenyinwa C. and Emeka-Nwabunnia Ijeoma and Ugochukwu Mmasi Godson and Awurum Ivy Nwaku},
      title = {Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Primary School Children in Three Geopolitical Zones of Imo State, Nigeria},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {3},
      number = {5-1},
      pages = {25-28},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.15},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.s.2015030501.15},
      abstract = {A study of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was conducted among children aged 5-16years in primary schools in rural parts of Imo State, Nigeria. Of the 337 faecal samples examined, 164 (48. 7%) harboured intestinal parasites with 65 (40. 4%) being from Orlu zone, 57 (52. 7%) from Owerri zone, and 42 (61. 8%) from Okigwe zone. The parasites identified were Ascaris lumbricoides (41. 5%), Hookworm (23. 8%), Trichuris trichiura (1. 2%), Teania spp (1. 2%), Entamoeba histolytica (36. 6%), and Giardia lamblia (1. 8%). Among the helminthes, A. lumbricoides (60. 0%) occurred highest among the age bracket of 14-16years, while E. histolytica (44. 4%) was the highest occurring protozoan parasite among children aged 5-7 years. Generally, prevalence of infection decreased with increasing age of children, and more females (53. 9%) than males (48. 1%) were infected. However, there was no statistical significant difference in infection with relation to age and sex of the pupils (p>0. 05). Intestinal parasitic infection is reduced through improved personal hygiene and environmental sanitation as children with high standard of hygiene were found to be less prone to parasitic infection.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AU  - Mgbemena Ifenyinwa C.
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    AB  - A study of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was conducted among children aged 5-16years in primary schools in rural parts of Imo State, Nigeria. Of the 337 faecal samples examined, 164 (48. 7%) harboured intestinal parasites with 65 (40. 4%) being from Orlu zone, 57 (52. 7%) from Owerri zone, and 42 (61. 8%) from Okigwe zone. The parasites identified were Ascaris lumbricoides (41. 5%), Hookworm (23. 8%), Trichuris trichiura (1. 2%), Teania spp (1. 2%), Entamoeba histolytica (36. 6%), and Giardia lamblia (1. 8%). Among the helminthes, A. lumbricoides (60. 0%) occurred highest among the age bracket of 14-16years, while E. histolytica (44. 4%) was the highest occurring protozoan parasite among children aged 5-7 years. Generally, prevalence of infection decreased with increasing age of children, and more females (53. 9%) than males (48. 1%) were infected. However, there was no statistical significant difference in infection with relation to age and sex of the pupils (p>0. 05). Intestinal parasitic infection is reduced through improved personal hygiene and environmental sanitation as children with high standard of hygiene were found to be less prone to parasitic infection.
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