EFFECTS OF IN TESTINAL PARASITES ON PUPILS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN TWO PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KOKONA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

This study investigated the impact of human intestinal parasites on school attendance of 179 pupils from two primary schools in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa Slate, Nigeria. Direct smear and formal-ether concentration methods were used for. parasitological screening offcacal samples. An overall prevalence of 65.4% was observed showing higher infection rate in males (67.0%) than females (63.4%). The prevalence of human intestinal parasites was significantly high among pupils of ages 11 15 years old (P < 0.05). Schistosoma mansoni and Enterobius venniuilaris occurred in very low infection rates (1.1%) and did not show any significant effect on school attendance. The prevalence of human intestinal parasites was significantly high (Kruskal Wallis tests, P < 0.001) among pupils with high rate of absenteeism (less than 50% school attendance). The implications of these findings to pupil's academic performance are discussed.