Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Gastro – Intestinal Parasites among Primary School Pupils in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections is one of the most important diseases in the sub Saharan Africa especially among primary school children. Several factors have been associated with the high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in tropical and sub- tropical countries in Africa. To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of gastro intestinal parasitic infections among Primary school pupils in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, 416 stool samples were randomly collected from pupils of eight(8) primary schools that were earlier selected by random sampling technique. Stool samples collected were examined for intestinal parasites using direct wet mount and formal ether sedimentation techniques. Out of the 416 samples examined, 97 (23.32%) were found to harbour different species of parasites. Fourteen pupils representing 3.37% were found to harbour helminth parasites while 83(19.95%) were infected by protozoan parasites. The helminth and protozoan parasites recovered were: Taenia spp (2.16%), Hook worm (1.20%), Entamoeba histolytica (11.78%) and Entamoeba coli (8.17%). Prevalence was found not to have significant influence (p < 0.05) though the infection was higher in males (13.94%) than in female pupils (9.37%). Pupils within 10 - 13 year age group had the highest(%) prevalence of infection during the study. Although type of toilet facility used by pupils was not found to have any significant(p < 0.05) influence on prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among the pupils, sources of drinking water used by the pupils significantly (p > 0.05) influence the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in the study area. It was concluded that intestinal parasitic infection is a public health problem in the study area since primary school population serve as a reflection of the wider community.