Prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in urban and peri-urban dumpsites in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STHs) remains a major public health burden in developing countries, with contaminated soil acting as reservoirs of transmission. Here, we assessed the prevalence and intensity of STHs in soil samples collected from selected dumpsites across four areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Method A total of 312 soil samples were collected across 12 dumpsites (26 per site) across four local government areas. Parasite eggs or larva recovered using sedimentation and modified Baermann techniques. Identification was done using standard microscopy. Data was analyzed using R software (v.4.5.2). Prevalence and intensity of STHs were computed across study sites. Differences in prevalence and intensities between sites were assessed using chi-square test and ANOVA respectively. Logistic regression was also used to determine factors associated with contamination. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Result Overall STH prevalence was 43.9%, with Strongyloides spp. been the most common (28.2%), followed by hookworms (13.8%) and Ascaris spp. (1.9%). Mean infection intensity was highest for Strongyloides (0.59 ± 0.95), followed by hookworms (0.22 ± 0.56) and Ascaris (0.03 ± 0.19). Prevalence was slightly higher in urban (51.0%) than peri-urban areas (40.4%) without statistical significance ( p = 0.10). Soil collected from urban areas (AOR: 6.11, 95% CI: 2.24–18.00, p < 0.001) and specifically in Ido LGA (AOR: 8.72, 95% CI: 4.29–18.60, p < 0.001) had higher odds of contamination. Conclusion Our findings show that dumpsites in urban and peri-urban areas could serve as important reservoirs for STH parasites. This calls for an urgent need for environmental and health educational interventions targeted at improving waste management, dissuading open defecation and scavenging practices on dumpsites.