Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies

Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies

Vol. 14, Issue No.2, December 2025

Discipline: Multidisciplinary Studies

Publisher: Misamis University

ISSN 2350-7020 (Print)
ISSN 2362-9436 (Online)

ABSTRACT

https://doi.org/10.62249/jmds.2013.2464

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasites amongst School-aged Children in Ikwerre LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria

Wogu, M. N.

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Corresponding email: michael.wogu@uniport.edu.ng

A study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasites among school-aged children in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Study participants were three hundred randomly selected school-aged children, and questionnaires were used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics (age and sex) and risk factors (frequency of wearing footwear and source of drinking water). Morning faecal samples were collected using sterile collection bottles from all study participants with the aid of their parents or legal guardians and examined microscopically using formol – ether concentration technique to determine the presence of parasites. Descriptive analyses (mean, percentage and tables) were used to represent the data obtained and chi-square test was used to determine the level of significance of the data with a P<0.05 considered significant. An overall intestinal parasite prevalence of 22.7% was recorded (P<0.05). Regarding the sex, males and females had an overall parasite prevalence of 23.8% and 21.2% respectively (P>0.05). Regarding the age, 2 – 6 years, 7 – 11 years and 12 – 16 years had overall parasite prevalence values of 35.1%, 23.5% and 11.1% respectively (P<0.05). The parasites observed in this study were Ascaris lumbricoides, Taenia species and Trichuris trichiura with prevalence values of 64.0%, 28.0% and 8.0% respectively (P<0.05). Periodic deworming, regular health education and improved hygiene are vital strategies in controlling intestinal parasites amongst school-aged children.

Keywords :   Ikwerre LGA, Intestinal parasites, Rivers State, School-aged children,

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