PREVALENCE OF GEOHELMINTHS IN SOME PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN'KEFFI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The investigation of prevalence and distribution of Geohelminths, invariably as source of information to the populace of some epidemiological factors, which flourish Geohelminths infection in various communities. Out of 128 soil samples examined, 85 (66.4%) __were confirmed positive for geohelminths using centrifugal floatation technique. The result revealed Strongyloides stercoralis (37.5%), Ancylostoma duodenale (16.4%,), Ascaris lumbricoides (10.9%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.6%) presence. Percentage isolation of the geohelminthsn from the schools were both ECWA High School, and ECWA Primary School recorded the highest prevalence of (83.3%) followed by Baptist School (79.2%), Angwan Lambu (54.2%), Happy Home (41.7%) and Victory Baptist High School (37.5%). There was a significant difference between the prevalence and type of parasites encountered in the soil examined (x2 = 64.7, df = 5, P < 0.05), the prevalence of geohelminths in relation to soil sites showed a highly '■'■significant difference between the sites of collection, (ANOVA Fcel = 5}3'6, df= 12, P<0.05). Statistically, there was no significant difference between the prevalence of geohelminths in relation to waste disposal niethods (x7 = 4.01, df = 17, P > 0.05). From observations, epidemiological factors in consonance with environmental conditions were the major risk factors for easy contacts with geohelminths. This also points to the fact that many school children are still exposed to .worm infection requiring accessibility to cheap and affordable anti-helminthic drugs. Deworming of high risk groups and good sanitary conditions are recommended to reduce the burden of gephelminths in these schools.