Abah AE and Awi-Waadu GDB
Gastro-intestinal helminthias is a macroparasitic disease caused by parasitic worms known as helminths which infect the Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GIT) of humans and other animals. The disease can potentially cause health problems as a result of the damage arising from the pathogenicity of the infections especially in children. This study therefore assessed the gastro-intestinal helminthiasis among primary school children in Gokana and Khana Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State. A total of 633 stool samples were collected and examined in duplicate using the standard methods of saline/iodine and formol-ether concentrations. The overall prevalence of gastro-intestinal helminthiasis in the two LGAs was 21.0% of which 24.3% and 17.4% were recorded for Gokana and Khana respectively. There was significant difference in infection rate between the two LGAs, being higher in Gokana than in Khana at P=0.02394. Sex related prevalence showed higher rate in males (31.1%) than females (18.5%) in Gokana and 22.3% in males than in females 13.0% in Khana Parasites recovered included Ascaris lumbricoides which had the highest prevalence in both Gokana (32.1%) and Khana (45.5%) followed by hookworm 24.4%, 23.6%, Trichuris trichiura 16.7%, 18.2% and Strongyloides stercoralis 5.1%, 3.6% for Gokana and Khana respectively. Multiple infections were encountered in both Local Government Areas with Ascaris hookworm combinations being the highest and most common in both areas. This study concludes that the prevalence of gastro- intestinal helminthiasis among school children in Gokana and Khana Local Government Areas is relatively high, therefore, there is need to step up effort towards the control of these parasites through improve sanitation and health education.