Assessment Of Health Knowledge, Practices and Risk Factors Associated with Intestinal Helminthes Among Students of Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma Oru East Local Government, Nigeria.
Ugagu, Gerald M.
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma, Oru East Nigeria
Abstract
A study was carried out on 620 students of Imo State Polytechnic Omuma using structured questionnaire between May and October 2023 to assess the health knowledge, practice and risk factors associated with intestinal helminthes. The demographic result of the study showed that male (56.5%) respondents were more than female (43.5%). The study also showed that 375(60.5%) and 245(39.5%) of respondents were within the age group of 17-20 years and 21-30 years respectively. Considering the type of toilet facilities utilized among the correspondents, 43% of the correspondents reside in accommodation with water closet facilities, 35.5% utilizes pit latrine while the other 22.5 % of the respondents’ resort to indiscriminate defecation in nearby bushes due to lack of toilet facilities in their residential accommodation. The study further observed that (55%) of the respondents used soap and water to wash their hands, while (45%) use only water. 40.1 % of respondents admitted passing out worm (Ascaris lumbricoides) before as against (59.9%) that never experience it. Poor hygiene (12.3%), contaminated food (25.2%), improper cooked food (7.2%), are some of the major reasons highlighted by respondents on the knowledge of causes of worm infection among other opinion, while (8.8%) respondents have no idea on the causes of worm infection. It was observed that (8.1%) of the student claim that worm is natural and everybody has worm, while (0.8%) of students attributed it to the eating of mango fruit, sugary things (11.5%), eating of excess meat (5.5%), starvation (0.6%) while (8.8%) do not know the exact cause. 32.5% of respondents admitted being re-infected after treatment, stating that this might be due to not obeying hygiene rules and regulation. 20.5% believed that once they are treated, they cannot be re-infected again. 36.5% believed that it can be prevented while (10.5%) believed that it cannot be prevented. The respondents believed that government can contribute greatly to good water and environmental sanitation in the life of its citizen through health education, regular environmental sanitation practices and the provision of social amenities for the good of the people.
Keywords: Health Knowledge, Practices, Risk Factors, Intestinal Helminthes
Impact Statement
This research was conducted using structured questionnaire to Assess the Health Knowledge, Practices And Risk Factors Associated With Intestinal Helminthes Among Students Of Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma Oru East Local Government, Nigeria. The demographic result of the study showed that male respondents were more than female . The study also showed that respondents used in the study were within the age group of 17-20 years and 21-30 years respectively. Considering the type of toilet facilities utilized among the correspondents, 43% of the correspondents reside in accommodation with water closet facilities, 35.5% utilizes pit latrine while the other 22.5 % of the respondents resort to indiscriminate defecation in nearby bushes due to lack of toilet facilities in their residential accommodation. The study further observed that the respondents used soap and water to wash their hands, while few use only water. A considerable number of respondents admitted passing out worm (Ascaris lumbricoides) before as against those that never experience it. Poor hygiene, contaminated food, improper cooked food, are some of the major reasons highlighted by respondents on the knowledge of causes of worm infection among other opinion, while few respondents has no idea on the causes of worm infection. It was also observed that a number of student claim that worm are natural and everybody has worm, while some students attributed it to the eating of mango fruit, sugary things, eating of excess meat, starvation while some do not know the exact cause. Many of respondents admitted being re-infected after treatment, stating that this might be due to not obeying hygiene rules and regulation. The respondents believed that government can contribute greatly to good water and environmental sanitation in the life of its citizen through health education, regular environmental sanitation practices and the provision of social amenities for the good of the people.
About The Author
Dr. UGAGU, GERALD MMADUABUCHI,MPPSN, MESN, MZSN. Born on March 11, 1983 at Umuezike Ubaha Ezimba Ogberuru in Orlu L.G.A Imo State, young Ugagu, Gerald Mmaduabuchi had his primary school at Community Primary School Amaifeke, in Orlu, LGA. He proceeded to Township Comprehensive Secondary School Amaifeke for his Secondary School Education and graduated in 2001 with Credit in all the subjects he sat for. Dr. Ugagu, Gerald M, was a student of Prestigious Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Umuahia Abia State where he obtained his B.Sc. (Zoology) Second Class Upper Division in 2008. He also has to his credit M.Sc. Public Health Parasitology and Entomology (CGPA=4.75) in 2015 and Ph.D. Medical and Applied Entomology (CGPA=5.00) in 2022 from Imo State University Owerri. He has a certificate in computer appreciation and processing. Dr. Ugagu, Gerald M, started his academic career in 2013 with Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, now in Omuma Oru East L.G.A Imo State as an assistant lecturer in the department of Science Laboratory Technology, by God’s grace and dent of hard work; he was promoted to Lecturer III in 2018 and Lecturer II in 2022. He is also an adjunct lecturer with Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ideato in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology. Dr. Ugagu, Gerald Mmaduabuchi teaching and research areas includes; General biology, Taxonomy, Public Health Parasitology and Entomology, Ecology, Genetics, Animal breeding, Pest and disease management and Physiology.
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