Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Assessment of Risk Factors in North-Western, Nigeria: A Community Based Study
Kabiru Mohammed1, Mohamed Rusli Abdullah1, Julia Omar1, Ikeh Eugene. I2, and Aziah Ismail3
1 School of Medical Science/Department of Community Medicine/Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian Kelantan, Malaysia
2 Department of Medical Microbiology/School of Medical Science University of Jos Nigeria
3 Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine/Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang K. Kelantan
2 Department of Medical Microbiology/School of Medical Science University of Jos Nigeria
3 Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine/Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang K. Kelantan
Abstract—Aim: Study was aimed to determine the prevalence and assessment of risk factors associated with intensity of intestinal parasitic infections in Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Parasitological examination was carried out on stool samples from 500 participants using formol ether concentration methods whose age ranges between 5 to >30 years. Results: Finding shows that 271 [54.2%] were positive for intestinal parasitic infections. Males recorded higher prevalence than the females with 85.4%, and 14.6% respectively. Predominant intestinal parasites identified in this study are Entamoeba coli, Hookworms, Entamoeba histolytica, and Ascaris lumbricoides with 17.0%, 6.6%, 6.2% and 5.0% prevalence, respectively. Conclusion: Intestinal parasites continue to remain a serious public health problem in North-western Nigeria. Low level of education, occupational status seems to be among significant risk factors for these infections. Creating awareness, level of sanitation, water supply and deworming programme among school children will reduce prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections among the study community.
Index Terms—intestinal parasites, risk factor, sokoto nigeria
Cite: Kabiru Mohammed, Mohamed Rusli Abdullah, Julia Omar, Ikeh Eugene. I, and Aziah Ismail, "Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Assessment of Risk Factors in North-Western, Nigeria: A Community Based Study" International Journal of Pharma Medicine and Biological Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 141-145, April 2015. doi: 10.18178/ijpmbs.4.2.141-145