Status of Hookworm Infection in some Selected Primary School Children in Mkar Metropolis of Benue State, Nigeria

This work investigated stool samples of primary school children for hookworm infection. Stool samples were collected from 200 primary school children in four randomly selected primary schools (50 children per school) within the age bracket of 1-13 years. The schools were: UBE Ahwa Primary School, NKST Orphanage School, Daystar Primary School, and Mkar Model Primary Schools). Standard microbiological practices were used in sample collection and processing. Microscopic technique was adopted in the analysis and detection of hookworm in samples under appropriate objective lenses. Data were analysed using Minitab 16.0 software. Level of significance was set at 5%. Hookworm prevalence was highest at NKST Orphanage with a prevalence of 30% while other schools had prevalence rates ranging from 10% -14%. Hookworm prevalence was significantly dependent on school types (χ2 = 15.21, P=0.002, P<0.05), the most infected was NKST Orphanage while the least infected was Daystar Nur/ Primary school (10%). All cases were above the WHO infection threshold of 5%. The overall result in the study area gave a total prevalence of 16.5%. The proportion of infected male to female was 44.5% to 51.5% respectively, but no significant association between sex status and hookworm infection (χ2 = 0.03, P=0.862, P>0.05). Age group of 1-5 years had more hookworm infections (54.5%) than other age groups. Therefore, hookworm infection was significantly associated with age groups (χ2 = 16.9, P=0.00, P<0.05). Proper awareness, health education, improved sanitary conditions and treatment regime is advocated among primary schools in the study area.