PREDICTORS OF INTESTINAL HELMINTHIC INFECTIONS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN GWAGWALADA, ABUJA, NIGERIA.

BACKGROUND

Prevalence and risk factors predisposing to intestinal helminthic infections vary widely. Risk factors to intestinal helminthic infections among children have not been documented in Gwagwalada, Nigeria which necessitated present study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine risk factors to intestinal helminthiasis among children aged 1-15 years in Gwagwalada, Nigeria.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study was carried out from June to November, 2011 in public schools using multi-staged, random sampling. Risk factors and helminth species were determined. Multiple stool samples were analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique. Participants had a single anal swab to search for Enterobius ova.

RESULTS

Of 220 subjects evaluated, prevalence rate of intestinal helminthic infections was 73.2%. Most common helminth identified was Ascaris lumbricoides (40.9%) and least was Trichostrongylus species (2.3%). Logistic regression analysis showed that significant, predictors of intestinal helminthiasis among subjects were female gender (P = 0.028), lack of hand washing after defecation (P < 0.01), multiple sources of drinking water (P = 0.011) and eating of unwashed fruits/vegetables (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

The present study identified predictors of intestinal helminthiasis among children Gwagwalada. Efforts should be made to institute regular health education, provision of potable water, environmental sanitation and de-worming programmes for children, as ways of reducing burden of the infections.