JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DISEASES
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2705-2214
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JPHD
Start Year: 2018
Email: jphd@integrityresjournals.org
Prevalence and intensity of hookworm infection in relation to anaemia among primary school pupils in Lafia rural areas
https://doi.org/10.31248/JPHD2021.110 | Article Number: D0C63AA42 | Vol.5 (4) - August 2022
Received Date: 25 November 2021 | Accepted Date: 29 August 2022 | Published Date: 30 August 2022
Authors: Luka, J. , Okeke, P. , Ombugadu, A. and Yina, G. I.*
Keywords: prevalence, Aneamia, heamoglobin, hookworm
The study was carried out between March to September 2020 to determine the prevalence and intensity of hookworm infection in relation to anaemia among primary school children in Lafia rural areas of Nasarawa State namely Musha, Alawagana, Duglu and Azuba. Four primary schools were randomly selected from the locality and a total of 560 faecal and 69 blood samples were collected and analysed. Out of the 560 faecal samples analysed, 115(20.5%) were infected with hookworm with a Geometric Mean Intensity (GMI) of 436.2 eggs per gram of faeces (epgf). Meanwhile, the prevalence and GMI of hookworm infection were higher in females (21.5%, 76.3 epgf) than in males (19.6%, 71.1 epgf), though no significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence between males and females. Age group 10‑12 years old had the highest prevalence rate of hookworm infection (26.3%), followed by 13‑15 (22.9%), 7‑9 (19.2%) and 4‑6 (9.0%). There was a strong inverse correlation (r = -0.99) between the intensity of hookworm infection and haemoglobin value. Haemoglobin value decreased with an increase in the intensity of hookworm infection in terms of eggs per gram of faeces. Hookworm infection is therefore associated with anaemia in the study area.
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