Geophagy and Associated Geohelminth Infections in Anaku, South East Nigeria
Keyword : Geophagy, soil-types, geohelminth infections, pupils, Anaku
Author(s) : Ngenegbo, U.C And Ikpeze, O.O
Abstract : Geophagy is a risk factor for geohelminth infections in Nigeria where soils contaminated with viable geohelminth eggs and larvae are ingested. A cross-sectional study on geophagy and associated geohelminth infections was done with systematically-selected 300 pupils (190 males and 110 females) aged 4-10 years from the six nursery-primary schools in Anaku between January and December 2020. Soil samples from 25 locations where soils for consumption were obtained, as well as fresh stool samples from the pupils were examined for geohelminth parasites according to the WHO Bench Aids. Data were imputed in MS excel spreadsheet where the chart wizard was used to produce bar charts, and standard error bars indicated significant differences (p<0.05) among variables compared. Clay soil was most commonly ingested in Anaku. The overall prevalence of geophagy among pupils was 70.3%, with significant difference (p>0.05), with prevalence of geohelminth infections between geophagous pupils (62.6%) and non-geophagous pupils (15.7%). Species prevalence of geohelminth eggs/larvae found in stools of geophagous and non-geophagous pupils respectively were Ascaris lumbricoides (52.6 & 6.0%), hookworm (32.6 & 7.6%), Trichuris trichiura (12.3 & 2.6%), Strongyloides stercolaris (11.0 & 2.6%), and mixed–infections with Ascaris and hookworm eggs (36.0 & 4.0%). Stages of geohelminth species were encountered in 84% of the 25 soil samples, which consisted of A. lumbricoides (68%), hookworm (52%), T. trichiura (16%), and S. stercolaris (16.0%), and mixed-infection with A. lumbricoides and hookworm species (60%). Geophagy appears to be one of the major risks for geohelminth infections in Anaku. Thus improved hygiene and sanitation would be a better option for geohelminth parasite control since deworming could not prevent pupils’ infection and re-infection.