INTESTINAL HELMINTH INFECTIONS IN PUPILS OF A RURAL COMMUNITY IN NIGERIA

Helminth parasites are endemic in rural communities in Nigeria that lack adequate water and sanitary facilities, so this study was focused on intestinal helminth infections and associated risks amongst pupils at Ebenebe in Anambra State Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was approved by Ministry of Basic Education Awka (Ref: MOBE/SCHD/1583/T9/8) while ethical permit (Ref: ASUBEB/ADM/14/VOL.III/232 of 21/11/2019) was granted by Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board. The 110 pupils enrolled in Umuji, Obuno, Umuoye, and Umuogbuefi public primary schools at Ebenebefor 2018/2019 school year constituted study population, while sample size of eighty (twenty pupils from each school) were systematically chosen. Pupils’ schools, age, gender, parents’ main occupation and toilet-use were obtained through visits, observations and oral interviews. Direct faecal smears and formalin-ether concentration techniques were used for stool samples analysis while parasitological keys were used for helminth parasites identifications. Data were summarized with bar charts using Microsoft Excel13Chart wizard, and standard error bars indicated significant differences (p