Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Polyparasitism in Okpokwu Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Intestinal and urinary parasitic infections represent one of the challenges of public health in the tropics and developing countries. A study was designed to determine the prevalence and distribution of polyparasitic infections as well as the impact of health education and treatments .Stool and urine samples from 350 participants were analysed macroscopically and microscopically by direct stool examination of wet and lugol’siodine preparations and formal-ether concentration techniques and microscopic examination of simple centrifuged samples of urine. One hundred and forty two (142) participants out of the three hundred and fifty (350) examined were infected with one parasite or more with an overall prevalence of 40.6%. Entamoeba histolytica had the highest frequency of occurrence both in the female and male participants (52 and 45 respectively). Out of 350 participants, 36 (10.3%) of them had co-infection (polyparasitism), the result of polyparasitism in the Local Government was not significant (p>0.05).  Age group 1- 10 had the highest prevalence of 55.6%. Farmers were mostly infected than the other occupations examined. Proper hygiene and sanitary conditions will go a long way to reduce the level of infections.