Gastro-intestinal Parasites in Orphanage Children in Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Analysis

Abstract

Aim: Gastro-intestinal parasites are a significant public health concern amongst children in developing countries due to unfavourable socio-economic conditions and inadequate sanitation/hygiene. Therefore, a study to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in orphanage children in Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria was conducted. Study Design: A cross-sectional observational study Place and Duration of Study: Four registered orphanages in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria between February to July 2024. Methodology: Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant authorities, and informed consent was obtained from the management of all selected orphanages before the commencement of this study. Stool samples from 244 randomly selected children (study participants) were collected; each stool sample was studied for macroscopic (to detect colour, mucus and consistency) and microscopic features (to detect the presence of parasites) using formol-ether concentration technique. All data generated were analyzed statistically using student T test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Turkey’s HDS post hoc. The observation showed statistically significant results at P<0.05. Results: An overall parasite prevalence of 14.8% was recorded in this study (P<0.05); Ascaris lumbricoides 22 (9.0%), hookworm 10 (4.1%) and Trichuris trichiura 4 (1.6%) were the only parasites identified during this study. Age groups (years) of 1 – 4, 5 – 8, 9 – 12 and 13 – 16 had prevalence values of 8 (12.9%), 10 (9.6%), 14 (21.2%) and 4 (33.3%) respectively. Males 24 (20.0%) had more prevalent rates than females 12 (9.7%) (P>0.05). Conclusion: Regular public health enlightenment, periodic deworming and other health strategies are vital in curbing the menace of gastro-intestinal parasites in children.