Intestinal Helminthiases Among School Children In Gyawana District, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Gastrointestinal helminth infection as a public health problem among primary school children was assessed using Kato-thick smear technique in five schools. Six hundred and thirty two (632) faecal samples were collected, examined and the result analysed. An overall prevalence rate of 32.1% was observed with intestinal helmith parasites in the district. The parasites encountered were: Teania spp (20.7%), hookworm (20.1%), Ascaris lumbricoides (16.1%), Trichuris trichiura (13.9%), Strongyloides stercoralis (6.6%) and Schistosoma mansoni (4.7%). The relationship between rate of infection and school was influenced by age as the 8-10 years age class had the highest infection rate of 39.2%. Boys were more infected (38.5%) than girls (18.9%), although there was no significant difference (P = 0.05). This is because boys are more active and are involved in more outdoor activities than girls. Multiple infections (36.1%) were more common than single infection (24.7%). Control measures that could be intensified to achieve better health standards should include; good sanitation, provision of portable drinking water, health education and hygienic practices, enlightenment campaigns and curative measures by providing good health services to the communities especially and specifically provision of deworming tablets to school children free of charge periodically is stressed. KEY WORDS: Gastrointestinal, helminth, prevalence, hygiene and education. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.11(2) 2005: 193-196