Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Rural and Urban Areas of Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Intestinal Parasite Infections (IPIs) are helminths and protozoa infections of serious public health concern, especially among children of developing world. The risk factors include poor access to clean water supply and good sanitation, poor hygiene practices, low level of public health education and fecal contamination. Stool samples collected from randomly selected population of children (4 15 years) and adults (25-50 years) in rural and urban regions of Kontagora LGA, were analyzed to determine the prevalence of IPIs. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests were employed at 0.05 significant level. Of the 104 children investigated, 67 (64.4%) in the rural and 49 (37.7%) in the urban areas were infected with at least a species of the intestinal parasites. Adults sampled in the rural area had prevalence rate of 59.2% while those in the urban area had 28.3% rate of infection. The mean parasite intensity in children within both regions was 2.93 in rural and 1.63 in urban areas. Of the sampled adults, 59.2% prevalence rate was recorded, with 85.1% infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, 62.1% with Necator americanus, 21.6% for Trichuris trichiura, 8.2% for Strongyloides stercoralis and 63.5% for Entamoeba histolytica. This study serves as reliable means for treatment decisions in Mass Drug Administration programmes and surveillance. Availability of clean water, improved environmental sanitation and personal hygiene practices, and sustainable public health education are important for long term preventive and control measures