ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF GEOHELMINTHS IN PATIENTS ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT TEACHING HOSPITAL, RIVERS STATE

Geohelminths are a group of soil-transmitted parasites most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and capable of causing serious health issues to vital human organs such as the liver. This study investigated the prevalence of geohelminths in patients attending University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), East-West Road, Rivers state, Nigeria, between 15th and 27th March, 2021. Faecal samples of 108 (57 males and 51 females) outpatients from the pediatric ward were collected and examined for the presence of geohelminths. In all 108 samples examined using a saturated brine solution (floatation method) in search of the three mentioned geohelminths: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm, only one sample was positive for Ascaris lumbricoides, which was found in a female child. The prevalence of the study was 0.93%. In urban areas and semi-urban areas, anthelminthics are administered continuously for regular deworming and there is also better sanitation and hygiene in such areas compared to rural. The low prevalence observed may reflect improved sanitation and deworming programs in the study area, although larger community-based studies are required to confirm this trend. The study further recommends continuous administration of anthelmintics, as well as health education and proper hygiene to keep improving the decline of geohelminths in the region.