%0 Journal Article
%T Prevalence of Human Intestinal Helminth Parasites among Undergraduate Students at the off Campus (North Gate Area), Federal University of Technology, Akure (Futa), Nigeria
%A Ebenezer Oluyemi Dada
%A Christiana Eleojo Aruwa
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 2
%N 3
%P 1-6
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2015
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1101399
%X Studies have shown that
soil-transmitted helminth infections are widely distributed throughout the tropics
and subtropics. Poor sanitation is a major factor in the spread of intestinal helminth
parasites. Hence, a study was carried out from July to September 2014, to determine
the prevalence of intestinal helminth parasites among undergraduate students at
North Gate, FUTA. A total of two hundred (200) stool samples were collected randomly
from both males and females. Faecal samples were analyzed using the formol-ether
sedimentation and concentration method. Parasites encountered by prevalence were <i>Taenia</i> spp. (13.5%), <i>Ascaris</i> <i>lumbricoides</i> (6.5%), <i>Entero</i><i>bius</i> <i>vermicularis</i> (2%), <i>Strongyloides</i> <i>stercoralis</i> (6%), <i>Trichuris</i> <i>trichiura</i> (5%), <i>Schistosoma</i> <i>man</i><i>soni</i> (3.5%) and Hookworm species (8%). Formol-ether concentration technique
was used to analyze the stool samples. The overall infection rate was 89 (44.5%).
The study showed that infections were more prevalent
among males. The highest prevalence of infections was recorded among the
age group of 19 - 22 years (21%) in both sexes, and least infection rate in the
age group of 27 - 30 years (1.0%). The highest prevalence of infection was observed
with students who made use of pit latrine (22%), compared with students who made
use of bush system (7.5%). Prevalence for users of water closet was 11%. On the
basis of the type of toilet system, the bucket system showed the least prevalence
of 4%. Prevalence of helminth parasite infection was the highest among students
using pipe borne water (22%) system as source of water, compared with users of stream/pond/
river water source, which had the least prevalence (3.5%). The study showed that
there was a need to encourage the practice of good personal hygiene and sanitation.
The health implication of low level of hygiene and faecal pollution of the environment
related to prevalence is discussed.
%K Intestinal Helminths
%K Parasites
%K Stool
%K Prevalence
%K Infections
%K Health
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/3143514