GEOHELMINTHS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN EGBEMA, OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENTAREA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated geohelminth infections among 280 primary school pupils in Egbema, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria.Faecal samples were analyzed at Ignatius Ajuru University using formol-ether and Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) flotation techniques.Results showed a high prevalence of geohelminth infections, with 199 pupils (71.1%) testing positive.The most common species were Ascaris lumbricoides (16.4%),Enterobius vermicularis (16.1%),Strongyloides stercoralis (13.6%),Trichuris trichiura (12.1%), and hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale, 12.8%).The total infection count was 491, with a Parasite Mean Intensity (PMI) of 2.5.Prevalence varied across schools, with CPS Okwuzi and CPS Ebocha recording the highest rates (74.3%),followed by CPS Mgbede (68.6%) and CPS Aggah (67.1%).However, chi-square tests found no significant differences.Agewise, pupils aged 11-13 years had the highest prevalence (85.1%), followed by 8-10 years (67.7%) and 5-7 years (60.2%), with a statistically significant variation (p=0.005).Males exhibited a higher prevalence (75%) than females (64.4%), with chi-square results (p=0.059)indicating a significant gender difference.Risk factor analysis highlighted poor sanitation, unsafe water sources, inadequate hygiene, and lack of footwear.About 45.7% defecated in bushes or rivers, 30.7% relied on borehole water, and 41.4% did not wash hands after using the toilet.Additionally, 51.8% did not wash fruits, and 10.4% never wore footwear.These findings underscore the need for urgent public health interventions to improve sanitation, promote hygiene, and enhance access to safe drinking water in affected communities.