Abstract

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The study assessed the prevalence and risk factors affecting the transmission of soil transmitted helminthiasis among school age children in Unwana and Akpoha commuties of Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The study involved stool examination for infective stages of soil transmitted helminth using zinc sulphate flotation technique. Ascaris lumbricoide, Trichura trichuris and Ancylostoma duodenale were observed. The overall prevalence rate was 71.6%. The sex related distribution of these helminthes showed the males were more infected 502 (50.2%) than the females 498 (49.8%). However, there was no statistical significant difference with respect to sex (p > 0.05%). The study further showed that 12 years old had the highest prevalence of 195 (39.0%) while ages 8 and 13 had the least occurrence 139 (17.8%). This difference is a gain not statistically significantly at p=0.05 Geohelminths distribution in relation to class showed that primary four (4) had the highest prevalence of 352 (70.4%) whereas primary five (5) recorded the least prevalence 297 (59.4%). The study concluded that risk factors obtained from the questionnaire such as unhealthy personal and poor environmental sanitation were the major factors that enhanced helminthiasis and its mode of transmission. It is therefore imperative that education to parents and mass anti-helminthic drugs administration programs be enlisted to these areas to help reduce the rate of infection among primary school children

Keywords: Akpoha, Prevalence, Soil transmitted helminthiasis, Unwana, Zinc sulphate flotation