Assessment of post intervention of geohelminth infection and risk factors among school aged children in the most endemic area of Kano, Nigeria

This study is an initial attempt at determining the prevalence of geohelminth infections among school aged children (SAC) in the most endemic area of Kano State as well as risk factors associated with the infection and the impact of deworming programme in SAC. A retrospective study on the prevalence of geohelminth infection in the 44 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Kano State was conducted. A stratified random sampling technique was used for sample collection. A total of 3000 children were recruited aged 6-15 years. Retrospective study showed that none was of high endemicity. The present status of geohelminth showed that only hookworm was present among SAC with a prevalence of 2.2% and intensity was light (mean: 17 epg). Risk factors that predispose SAC to geohelminth infection like eating outside home, poor hand washing practice, and nail biting were found not to be significantly associated with hookworm infection except risk factor like walking bare footed which was significantly associated with hookworm infection. In conclusion, Prevalence of geohelminth infection in Kabo LGA prior to deworming was 35.1% and post intervention among SAC was generally low (2.2%). The observed low prevalence of geohelminth infection could be attributed to the success of the deworming programme carried out in the district in 2013. Risk factors like poor hand washing practice (2.3%), walking bare footed (2.6%) and eating outside home (2.6%) were pre-dominant among SAC