Prevalence of Hookworm Infection Among Peasant Farmers In Selected Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

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ABSTRACT This study aimed at determining the prevalence of hookworm infection among peasant farmers in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross sectional, descriptive study was carried out between November 2014 and October 2015. One thousand two hundred (1200) eligible peasant farmers were enrolled in the study. One LGA was selected from each of three Senatorial zone of Kaduna State by simple random sampling method of which four hundred (400) stool samples were collected from each of the three LGAs. The results obtained showed the overall prevalence of hookworm infection in the study population using microscopy technique to be 18.7%. In respect to LGA, prevalence rate of hookworm infection was 24.0% in Jema’a, 17.3% in Chikun and 14.8% in Zaria LGA respectively. The prevalence of hookworm infection was found to be significantly associated with the studied LGA (P< 0.002). Hookworm infection among different age groups revealed higher prevalence of 25.0% among middle age individuals between 40 to 49 years followed by 70 – 79 years (21.3%), 60 – 69 years (20.2%), > 80 years (19.6%), 50 – 59 years (18.3%), 30 – 39 years (17.1%), 20 – 29 years (15.8%) and the least was 10 – 19 years (12.5%). Higher prevalence of hookworm infection was recorded among female (21.7%) than male (16.1%) which was of statiscal significant (P Value = 0.013). The results of this study indicated an overall prevalence rate of hookworm infection of 18.7% among peasant farmers in Kaduna State. This indicates a potential risk of severe anaemia among individuals particularly the vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children of school age who participate in farming. In conclusion, this study revealed the transmission of human hookworm among peasant farmers in Kaduna State to be at alarming rate. Therefore, major prevention and control measures should be adopted to avoid further spread of the infection; and more so, there is a need for prompt treatment of the infected persons as well as creating a law that will prohibit indiscriminate defeacation on farm lands.