| Peer-Reviewed

Geo-helminthes Associated with Geophagic Pupils in Selected Primary Schools in Oyi, Anambra State

Received: 7 July 2015     Accepted: 2 September 2015     Published: 10 November 2015
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Identification of geo-helminthes associated with geophagy as well as risk factors predisposing to such infestations among primary school pupils were carried out. Ethical permissions were obtained from headteachers of schools and pupils to collect stool samples of 200 volunteer pupils, aged 5-13years (106 males and 94 females) from rural and urban primary schools in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Stool samples were examined microscopically using wet mount (normal saline and iodine) technique. Data collected via questionnaires were analyzed to assess the relationship between geophagia, regular ingestion of soil and soil-transmitted parasites. Three intestinal parasites: Ascaris lumbricoides (A.lumbricoides), Ancylostoma duodenale (A. Duodenale) and Trichuris trichiura (T. Trichiura) were commonly observed. A total of 178 pupils (89%) found to be infected with one or more of these worms. A.lumbricoides had the highest prevalence of 52.8%, while A.duodenale and T.trichiura had 32.58% and14.61% respectively in all five villages in the Local Government Area. Infection rates and geophagic habits were established to be highest in children between the ages of 5 and 7years (p>0.05). Location and sex were observed to be insignificant factors in the distribution of these parasites (p>0.05). Geophagy and any other form of contact with the topsoil and children orally should therefore be noted as an important risk factor for orally acquired parasitic infections among children. Education on geophagy prevention should be an integral component of all soil-transmitted parasite control programs.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 5-1)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Who Is Afraid of the Microbes

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19
Page(s) 45-50
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Geophagy, Intestinal Helminthes, Pupils, Anambra State

References
[1] E. Landa and C. Feller, Soil and Culture. Springer Publishers, Netherlands, 2009, P. 370.
[2] R. Krishnamani and W. Mahaney, “Geophagy among primates: Adaptive significance and ecological consequences,” Animal Behavior. 59(5): 899 - 915, 2000.
[3] G. Callahan, “Eating Dirt,” Emerging infectious diseases, 9(8): 1016 - 1021, 2003.
[4] D. Jackson, Cleanse and purify thyself, Book1. Christboe Publishing, Oregon. 2007, P. 25.
[5] World Health Organization, “Soil-transmitted Helimnth infections,” www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs366/en, 2014. Accessed 10/01/2015.
[6] M. Mills, “Nursing for Women’s Health,” Association of Women’s health, Obstetrics and Neo-natal nurses (AWHONN) Journal. 11(3): 266 - 267, 2007.
[7] L. Crawford and K. Bodkin, “Health and Social impacts of Geophagy,” McGill School of Environment Journal, 6(1):15 - 20, 2011.
[8] N.O. Simelane, “The socio-cultural aspects of geophagia in southern Africa,” A paper presented at the Int’l conference and enzootic geophagia in South Africa, 19 – 24 Oct., 2008.
[9] R. Kusher, B. Gleason and V. Shanta-Retelny, “Re-emergence of Pica following gastric bypass surgery for Obesity: A new presentation of an old problem,” Journal of American Dietetics Association, 104(9):1393 -1397, 2004.
[10] S. Carmichael, G. Shaw, D. Schaffer, C. Laurent and S. Selvin, “Dieting behaviors and Risk of neural tube defects,” American Journal of Epidemiology. 158:1127-1131, 2003.
[11] P. Hooda, C. Henry, T. Seyoum, M. Armstrong and M. Fowler, “The potential impact of geophagy and the bio-availabilty of iron in human nutrition,” Enviromental Geochemistry and Health. 24(4): 305 - 319, 2002.
[12] S. Young, M. Wilson, D. Miller and S. Hiller, “Toward a comprehensive approach to the collection and analysis of pica substances with emphasis on geophagic materials,” Public Library of Science Journal (PLOS) one, 3(9): 3, 2008
[13] J. Hunter and R. DeKleine, “Geophagy in Central America,” American Geographical Society, 74(2): 157 - 169, 1984.
[14] L. Lopez, C. Soler and M. de Portela, “Pica during pregnancy; a frequently under estimated problem,” Archivos Latino americanos de Nutricion 54(1): 17 - 24, 2004.
[15] P. Omah, A. Ibidapo and O. Okwa, “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Geo-helminthiasis in Umuebu Community, Ukwuani L.G.A Delta State, Nigeria,” British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research. 4(5): 1175 - 1186, 2013.
[16] S. Anyangwe, “The epidemiology of geophagia in humans,” A paper presented at the Int’l conference and enzootic geophagia in South Africa, 19 – 24 Oct., 2008.
[17] M. Elom, M. Alo, U. Ugah, I. Uchenna and A. Gweon, “Intestinal helminthes associated with geophagy in pregnancy in Afikpo North, Ebonyi State,” World Journal of Medicine and Medical Research. 1(50): 92 - 97, 2013.
[18] B. Emmanuelle and A. Solorzano, “Public science and politics in the Rockefeller Foundation’s Hookworm campaign in Mexico,” Social Science and Medicine. 49(9): 1197 - 1213, 1999.
[19] M. Cheesbrough, District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries. Part1. Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, 1998, p193 – 199.
[20] Centre for Disease Control, “Soil-transmitted Helminthes,” www.cdc.gov/parasites/sth, 2013, Accessed 13th July, 2014.
[21] T.C. Davies, A.O. Solomon, P. Lar and P.W. Abraham, “A socio-economic study of geophagy in Jos, Plataeu Nigera,” A paper presented at the Int’l conference and enzootic geophagia in South Africa, 19 – 24 Oct., 2008.
[22] P. Geissler and R. Wenzel, “The significance of earth eating: Social and Cultural Aspects of Geophagy among Africans,” Journal of the International African Institute, 70(4): 653 - 682, 2000.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Okereke J. N., Obasi K. O., Nwadike P. O., Ezeji E. U., Udebuani A. C. (2015). Geo-helminthes Associated with Geophagic Pupils in Selected Primary Schools in Oyi, Anambra State. Science Journal of Public Health, 3(5-1), 45-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Okereke J. N.; Obasi K. O.; Nwadike P. O.; Ezeji E. U.; Udebuani A. C. Geo-helminthes Associated with Geophagic Pupils in Selected Primary Schools in Oyi, Anambra State. Sci. J. Public Health 2015, 3(5-1), 45-50. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Okereke J. N., Obasi K. O., Nwadike P. O., Ezeji E. U., Udebuani A. C. Geo-helminthes Associated with Geophagic Pupils in Selected Primary Schools in Oyi, Anambra State. Sci J Public Health. 2015;3(5-1):45-50. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19,
      author = {Okereke J. N. and Obasi K. O. and Nwadike P. O. and Ezeji E. U. and Udebuani A. C.},
      title = {Geo-helminthes Associated with Geophagic Pupils in Selected Primary Schools in Oyi, Anambra State},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {3},
      number = {5-1},
      pages = {45-50},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.s.2015030501.19},
      abstract = {Identification of geo-helminthes associated with geophagy as well as risk factors predisposing to such infestations among primary school pupils were carried out. Ethical permissions were obtained from headteachers of schools and pupils to collect stool samples of 200 volunteer pupils, aged 5-13years (106 males and 94 females) from rural and urban primary schools in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Stool samples were examined microscopically using wet mount (normal saline and iodine) technique. Data collected via questionnaires were analyzed to assess the relationship between geophagia, regular ingestion of soil and soil-transmitted parasites. Three intestinal parasites: Ascaris lumbricoides (A.lumbricoides), Ancylostoma duodenale (A. Duodenale) and Trichuris trichiura (T. Trichiura) were commonly observed. A total of 178 pupils (89%) found to be infected with one or more of these worms. A.lumbricoides had the highest prevalence of 52.8%, while A.duodenale and T.trichiura had 32.58% and14.61% respectively in all five villages in the Local Government Area. Infection rates and geophagic habits were established to be highest in children between the ages of 5 and 7years (p>0.05). Location and sex were observed to be insignificant factors in the distribution of these parasites (p>0.05). Geophagy and any other form of contact with the topsoil and children orally should therefore be noted as an important risk factor for orally acquired parasitic infections among children. Education on geophagy prevention should be an integral component of all soil-transmitted parasite control programs.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Geo-helminthes Associated with Geophagic Pupils in Selected Primary Schools in Oyi, Anambra State
    AU  - Okereke J. N.
    AU  - Obasi K. O.
    AU  - Nwadike P. O.
    AU  - Ezeji E. U.
    AU  - Udebuani A. C.
    Y1  - 2015/11/10
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 45
    EP  - 50
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.s.2015030501.19
    AB  - Identification of geo-helminthes associated with geophagy as well as risk factors predisposing to such infestations among primary school pupils were carried out. Ethical permissions were obtained from headteachers of schools and pupils to collect stool samples of 200 volunteer pupils, aged 5-13years (106 males and 94 females) from rural and urban primary schools in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Stool samples were examined microscopically using wet mount (normal saline and iodine) technique. Data collected via questionnaires were analyzed to assess the relationship between geophagia, regular ingestion of soil and soil-transmitted parasites. Three intestinal parasites: Ascaris lumbricoides (A.lumbricoides), Ancylostoma duodenale (A. Duodenale) and Trichuris trichiura (T. Trichiura) were commonly observed. A total of 178 pupils (89%) found to be infected with one or more of these worms. A.lumbricoides had the highest prevalence of 52.8%, while A.duodenale and T.trichiura had 32.58% and14.61% respectively in all five villages in the Local Government Area. Infection rates and geophagic habits were established to be highest in children between the ages of 5 and 7years (p>0.05). Location and sex were observed to be insignificant factors in the distribution of these parasites (p>0.05). Geophagy and any other form of contact with the topsoil and children orally should therefore be noted as an important risk factor for orally acquired parasitic infections among children. Education on geophagy prevention should be an integral component of all soil-transmitted parasite control programs.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 5-1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • epartment of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Biological Science, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • KNCV Nigeria / Challenge TB Project, Abuja, Nigeria

  • epartment of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • epartment of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Sections