Geophagy As A Risk Factor For Helminth Infections In Pregnant Women In Lusaka, Zambia

trichiura ova require moisture to survive and embryonate. The soils ingested by the respondents were dried, some of which are roasted, backed or smoked before ingestion and thus rendering them unsuitable for the survival of ova, let alone the support of embryonated ova which are the infectious stages. This study has demonstrated that no ova were recovered from any of the soil types preferred by the pregnant women, and as such geophagy was an unlikely risk factor for geohelminth infections. Other explanations for the high helminth infection rates among pregnant women recorded in the literature must be sought, such as pica, poor hygiene, and unsanitary environments