Risk Factors for Intestinal Parasitosis among Almajiri Pupils in Zaria, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Context: Intestinal parasitosis is an infection by intestinal parasites and is of important public health concern in the tropics and subtropics. The Almajiri pupils have peculiar characteristics in the community that predispose them to intestinal parasitosis. Aim: To assess the risk factors for intestinal parasitosis among Almajiri pupils in Zaria, North Western Nigeria. Settings and Design: The study was undertaken in Zaria town of Kaduna State, North Western Nigeria. Cross-sectional analytical design was used for this study. Subjects and Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on 262 consented participants drawn by multistage sampling technique. Sociodemography, risk factors for intestinal parasitosis, and stool examination findings of the study participants were assessed. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. P values <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among the pupils was 83.2%. Statistically significant relationships were found between having intestinal parasitosis and being an older pupil (P = 0.008), poor hand washing practices after defecation (P = 0.042), habit of biting finger nails/thumb sucking (P = 0.003), two or more pupils eating together from the same bowl (P = 0.003), and belonging to a polygamous family (P = 0.009). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of intestinal parasitosis with many of its risk factors such as poor personal hygiene identified among the Almajiri pupils in Zaria. It is recommended that public health promotion, improved personal hygiene, and including the Almajiri pupils in mass deworming exercises are emphasized.