Intestinal Parasitic Infection and Assessment of Risk Factors in North-Western, Nigeria: A Community Based Study

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.