SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTHIASIS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN OKPOKO, OGBARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is known to affect the nutrition of school children.
These often over-looked morbidities are very important because the health impairment
is substantial. Its manifestations also include reduction in individual learning ability,
productivity, and earnings thus recycling poverty.
The objectives of the study were to determine: the prevalence of soil-transmitted
helminthiasis in Okpoko Ogbaru Local Government Area; the intensity of the
helminthiasis; the prevalence of anaemia; the prevalence of stunting and/ or wasting;
and the relationship between the intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and
nutritional status.
The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis was 7.7%. The helminths identified
were Ascaris lumbricoides (n = 20), Trichuris trichuria (n = 1), hookworm (n = 9) and
Heterophyes heterophyes (n = 1). None of the pupils had polyhelminthic infection. In
the infected group, 86.7% (n = 26) had helminthiasis of light intensity, 6.7% (n = 2)
moderate intensity and 6.7% (n = 2) severe intensity. The prevalence of anaemia was
24.2%. Five (1.2%) had severe anaemia. The prevalence of malnutrition was 4%.
Thirteen pupils (3.2%) were stunted, 2 (0.5%) underweight and 1 (0.25) obesity. None
was wasted. There was no statistically significant relationship between the prevalence
and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and the nutritional status.
Since the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Okpoko Ogbaru Local
Government Area, is beyond one percent, and the community belongs to the category

III transmission area, STH is still a public-health problem in this area and requires
continual intake of antihelminthics.

SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINTHIASIS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN OKPOKO, OGBARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA