Intestinal Parasites, Malaria and Anemiaamong School Children in Some FloodAffected Areas of Ogbaru Local GovernmentAnambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

An epidemiological study was carried out on school children in some flood affected areas of Ogbaru local government Anambra state Nigeria to assess their health and environment after the 2011/2012 flood. Four hundred and eighty primary school children were examined for intestinal parasite, malaria parasite and anaemia. Formol acetate concentration method was used to analyse the stool samples for intestinal parasites. Giemsia’s staining technique was used for malaria parasite test, while Haematocrit packed cell volume capillary method and cyanmethaemoglobin method were used to screen for anaemia. Fifty two point five (52.5%) percent were infected with one or more of the intestinal parasites. Eighty six point four six percent (86.46%) were infected with malaria parasite, while 55.21% were anaemic (hemoglobin <11 g/dl). Ascaris lumbricoides was the highest (29.20%) intestinal parasites obtained while Hymenolepis nana was least (2.35%). The highest rate of intestinal parasite infection was seen in the age group10-13 years (52.54%) and the least was from 14-17 years (49.02%). Intestinal parasites were more in females (51.29%) than in males (48.08%). The highest rate of infection with malaria parasite was seen among the ages of 6-9years (89.83%) while 10-13 years and 14-17 years had a prevalence of 85.17% and 85.62% respectively. Malaria infection was more prevalent in males (45.83%) than females (40.63%). The highest prevalence of anaemia was seen between the ages of 10- 13 (57.77%) and the least 14-17 (52.29%). Forty seven point five percent of the children had both malaria parasite and anaemia. There was significant association between PCV of malaria infected children and non infected children (p<0.05). These findings suggest that this area has some major public health challenges therefore the need for adequate measures to remedy the situation and avoid epidemics.