Intestinal Parasites Among Unity Primary School Pupils, In Oraifite, Ekwusigo L.g.a., Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0. RESULTS

The data obtained from stool samples were analysed statistically

using chi-square (X2) test. The level of significance was p< 0.05.

An overall prevalence rate of 47.6% was observed. Seven parasites, namely Ascaris lumbricoides (12.8%), Trichuris trichiura (1.9%), Hookworm (7.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis (4.8%), Entamoeba histolytica (11.0%), Entamoeba coli (6.7%), and Giardia lamblia (2.8%) were isolated (Table 1). Thus, Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent intestinal parasite (figure 1).

Infection was higher among females than in males, though it was not statistically significance (p > 0.05). Children in age group 10-14 years had the highest prevalence rate (61.4%) while those in age group 5-9 (24.1%) had the lowest prevalence rate. The difference in the prevalence rate with respect to age was statistically significance (p < 0.05). Children whose parents were farmers and those whose parents combine farming with other occupations (Others) had the highest prevalence rate of 66.7% each. Children whose parents were traders and civil servants had the prevalence rate of 41.0% and 20.4% respectively. There was a statistically significance difference in the prevalency of intestinal parasitosis by parents occupation (p < 0.05) (Table 2).

Table 3 reveals information on the distribution of children with intestinal parasites by class. Pupils in nursery showed the highest prevalence value (54.9%) while those in primary 3 showed the least prevalence value (30.2%). There was no statistically significance difference in the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis by class (p > 0.05).