Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitoses among residents of Ekemkpon and Idim Ita of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: intestinal parasitic infections are the most common infections in the world, with the most prevalent burden occurring in poverty-stricken areas. Intestinal parasitic infections are endemic in certain parts of Nigeria as a result of poor hygiene practices and pollution, which result in contamination of food and water. In semi-urban and rural communities where the dwellers are generally poor and uneducated and lack basic amenities like potable water supply and good sanitary facilities, intestinal parasitic infections cause major health problems. This study was to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic factors in the transmission of intestinal parasitoses among the residents of Ekemkpon and Idim Ita Communities of Cross River State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: this was a cross-sectional survey between April 2019 and August 2019. Samples were obtained from 359 participants in the study areas and examined for stool analysis using direct microscopy and brine floatation technique. Socio-demographic data of the study subjects were obtained using questionnaires. Results: the prevalence of intestinal parasites was higher in Ekemkpon (41.0%) than in Idim Ita (14.9%). Participants with mixed infections in Ekemkpon were 7.9%, while those in Idim Ita were 2.2%. The study has shown that level of education had an influence on the transmission of intestinal parasites in Ekemkpon (p<0.05). Open defecation played a major role as a source of contamination of domestic water and farm products in the Ekemkpon community. The overall helminthic infections in the two study areas were higher than the protozoan infections observed in this study. The only intestinal protozoa in Ekemkpon was Entamoeba histolytica/dispar while hookworm species were the commonest helminthic parasites in Ekemkpon. Balantidium coli (4.4%) was the most prevalent intestinal protozoan parasites in Idim Ita while hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides (2.8%) were the most occurring helminthic parasites in Idim Ita. Conclusions: it is recommended that strategies aimed at health education, diagnosing and treating those positive for intestinal parasite infections, and improving the general well-being of the masses be encouraged.