Abstract
The study investigated prevalence of geo-helminth infection in pregnant women attending antenatal care at Nandi Hills Sub-County Hospital in Nandi County. Stool samples were collected from randomly selected consenting pregnant women to attain a sample size of 300. The samples were processed immediately at the hospital using formal-ether concentration technique and results recorded in terms of either presence or absence of ova. Direct smear egg count was done to quantify worm burden. Capillary blood was obtained by a finger prick for measurement of haemoglobin levels. Participants were requested to fill a questionnaire to obtain information regarding water source, mode of faecal disposal geophagy status and recent chemoprophylaxis. Geohelminth parasites detected were Ascaris lumbricoides (30%), hookworm (15%) and Trichiuris trichiura (1%). There were significant differences in co-infections with A. lumbricoides hookworm (P=0.00) and A. lumbricoides - T. trichiura parasites (P=0.007). Factors that had significant positive association with either A. lumbricoides-hookworm or A. lumbricoides -T. trichiura co-infections were use of piped water, pit latrine, being geophagous and lack of recent chemoprophylaxis.
Publisher
Pan Africa Science Journal (PASJ)
Subject
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,Metals and Alloys,Strategy and Management,Mechanical Engineering