Douglas K E, Amadi C U
Niger J Med. 2016 Jan-Mar;25(1):24-32.
Farmers like most groups of workers are faced with a multiplicity of hazards and biological hazards like Soil Transmitted Helminths - a major Public health problem in the tropical like Nigeria is one of them. This study was to determine the prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs) infections among farmers in Ukwa West Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, South East Nigeria.
Following ethical clearance,290 consenting farmers were recruited to participate in this descriptive cross sectional study. They responded to pre-tested, structured, close ended interviewer administered questionnaires which probed socio-demographics,knowledge and behaviour towards STHs. Also, stool and blood samples were collected from participants and examined for helminth ova and estimation of packed cell volume respectively. A Walk Through Survey of the farms for immediate work place situation and safety was carried out. Collected data were analysed using descriptive and analytical tools.
There was a 33.1% prevalence of infection with STHs and a 67.6% prevalence of anaemia among respondents. Hookworm had the highest (59.6%) prevalence just as anaemia amongst farmers with STHs was higher than among respondents who were not diagnosed with the disease. Knowledge of STHs and the availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) were poor.
There was a high prevalence of STHs among farmers in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, South East Nigeria occasioned inter alia by the behaviour and poor use of PPEs. Health Education, routine de-worming and use of PPEs are recommended.
与大多数工人群体一样，农民面临多种危害，土壤传播的蠕虫等生物危害是其中之一，在尼日利亚等热带地区，这是一个重大的公共卫生问题。本研究旨在确定尼日利亚东南部阿比亚州乌夸西西部地方政府辖区农民中土壤传播蠕虫（STH）感染的流行情况。
在获得伦理批准后，招募了290名同意参与的农民参加这项描述性横断面研究。他们回答了经过预测试、结构化、封闭式的访谈问卷，该问卷询问了社会人口统计学、对STH的知识和行为。此外，还从参与者那里采集了粪便和血液样本，分别检查蠕虫虫卵并估计红细胞压积。对农场进行了实地调查，以了解即时工作场所的情况和安全性。使用描述性和分析性工具对收集的数据进行分析。
受访者中STH感染率为33.1%，贫血患病率为67.6%。钩虫的患病率最高（59.6%），感染STH的农民中的贫血患病率高于未被诊断出患有该病的受访者。对STH的了解以及个人防护装备（PPE）的可用性和使用情况较差。
在尼日利亚东南部阿比亚州乌夸西西部地方政府辖区的农民中，STH的患病率很高，这尤其归因于行为和PPE使用不当。建议进行健康教育、定期驱虫和使用PPE。
