PREVALENCE OF SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS INFECTIONS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN BONDO DISTRICT, NYANZA PROVINCE, KENYA 2007

Abstract

A study to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) was conducted among 418 school children in 20 primary schools in five divisions (Maranda, Madiany, Rarieda, Nyang’oma and Usigu) of Bondo district, Nyanza Province, Kenya. In a cross-sectional survey stool samples were obtained from children aged 5-15 years and examined for the presence of eggs of helminthes, from September to November 2007. The stool samples were examined using the direct method and Formol-Ether concentration. The overall prevalence of STH in the district was found to be 18.4%. Ascaris lumbricoides had the highest prevalence at 8.6% followed by Hookworms 5.7%, Trichuris trichuria 3.7% and Strongyloides stercoralis 0.2% respectively. The study revealed that Maranda division had the highest prevalence of the helminthes infections. The high prevalence of worm infection in Maranda seems to be associated with the division’s dependency on water pan as a source of water for domestic use. Children belonging to the age group of 5-7 years were more infected with STHIs than those of older age groups. It is recommends that further study be done to find out why dependency on water pan as a source of water for domestic use is a risk factor in Maranda.