Prevalence, Intensity, and Knowledge of Hookworm Infection Among Rural Fishermen and Farmers in Rivers State, Nigeria: An Occupational Health Perspective

Authors

  • Bruce I Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.
  • Alali AA Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.
  • Lawson SD Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medical Sciences Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.
  • Cookey-Gam IF Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.
  • Austin-Asomeji I Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.
  • Ogba AA Department of Public Health Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.
  • Ogbonda PI Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.
  • Perri T Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13883818

Keywords:

Fishermen, Farmers, Hookworm, Infection, Knowledge, Prevalence, Rural

Abstract

Background: Hookworm infestation adversely affect humans especially in developing countries. Agricultural workers are predisposed to acquiring hookworm infection due to direct exposure to soil or water where the filariform larvae which is the infective stage live and penetrate the skin. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, infection intensity and knowledge of hookworm infestation among rural fishermen and farmers in Rivers State, Nigeria. Method: A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting the participants. 200 fishermen and 200 farmers were recruited between May and November 2021. Stool samples were processed using the Kato- Katz technique. 19 possible answers were summed up to assess knowledge. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 and presented in charts and tables. Result: The age of respondents ranged from 18 to 70 years with a mean age of 46 ± 12years. More than 50% of respondents have worked for 10 years. About half of respondents had only primary level of education while the average income was 30,000 Naira monthly. The prevalence of hookworm was 14.5% among fishermen and 12.5% among farmers. Both groups had majority of respondents with light intensity infection. For knowledge of hookworm infection, 55.86% of fishermen were assessed as having poor knowledge while 44.14% were deemed to have good knowledge. Among farmers, 44.13% had good knowledge and 55.86% had poor knowledge of hookworm infections. Conclusion: The prevalence of hookworm was 14.5% among fishermen and 12.5% among farmers. Most respondents had low density hookworm infection while level of knowledge was generally poor. These figures are worrisome thus there is need for awareness of hookworm in particular and other soil-transmitted Helminthes in general in this informal occupational group.

References

Adebayo AM, Owoaje ET, Famakin M; Helminthic Infections among Farmers in a Rural Community in Oyo State, South-western Nigeria. Journal of community Med Prim Health care. 2015;27(1):1-10.

Hotez P. NTDs V.2.0: “Blue Marble Health”—Neglected Tropical Disease Control and Elimination in a Shifting Health Policy Landscape. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013;7(11):e2570.

Opoku DK. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done about It. Paul Collier. Afr Today. 2009;55(4):134-6.

Lustigman S, Prichard RK, Gazzinelli A, Grant WN, Boatin BA, McCarthy JS, (et al). A Research Agenda for Helminth Diseases of Humans: The Problem of Helminthiases. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2012 Apr 24;6(4): e1582.

Ogunji J.; Wuertz, S. Aquaculture Development in Nigeria: The Second Biggest Aquaculture Producer in Africa. Water 2023, 15(24),4224. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15244224

Agi P, Awi-Waadu G. Hookworm infection in Amassoma Community in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. J Appl Sci Environ Management. 2010;12(2):17-20.

Humphries D. Epidemiology of Hookworm infection in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana. Am J Trop Med. 2011;84(5):792-800.

Bopda J, Nana-Djeunga H, Tenaguem J, Kamtchum-Tatuene J, Gounoue-Kamkumo R, Assob-Nguedia C, Kamgno J. Prevalence and intensity of human soil transmitted helminth infections in the Akonolinga health district (Centre Region, Cameroon): Are adult hosts contributing in the persistence of the transmission? Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2016 Mar 22;1(2):199-204. doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2016.03.001. PMID: 29988185; PMCID: PMC5991827.

Stufano A, Foti C, Lovreglio P, Romita P, Marco A, Lia RP et al. Occupational risk of cutaneous larva migrans: A case report and a systematic literature review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022;16(5):e0010330.

Chollom SC, Chollom R, Gbise SD, Kaigama AJ, Dyek YD Gideon B. et al Prevalence and Speciation of Hookworm in Plateau State, Nigeria Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology Vol. 4(2), pp. 14 -19,2012

Classen T, Boisson S, Routray P, Torondel B, Bell M, Cumming O, et al. Effectiveness of a Rural Sanitation Programme on Diarhoea, Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection and Childhood Malnutrition in Odisha, India. A cluster randomised trial. Lancet Glob Heal. 2014;2(11):e645-53.

Funso-Aina OI, Chineke HN, Adogu PO. A Review of Prevalence and Pattern of Intestinal Parasites in Nigeria (2006-2015). EJMED. 2020;2(1).

Cadiz APB, Fadrilan-Camacho VF, Quizon RR, Josef RG. Occupational Health and Safety of the Informal Mining, Transport and Agriculture Sectors in The Philippines. SouthEast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 2016 47(4) 833-843.

Palmeirim M, Ouattara M, Esse C, Koffi V, Assare R, Hurlimann E, et al. Are school children less infected if they have good knowledge about parasitic worms? A case study from rural Cote d’ Ivoire. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(951).

Eke S, Otuu C, Ibrahim S, Omalu I, Hassan S, Boyi A. Hookworm Infection Among Humans in Panda, Panda Development Area, Karu LGA of Nassarawa State. Int J Appl Biol Res. 2014;6(1):66-73.

Ibidapo CA, Okwa OM. The prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths in a rural community, Lagos suburb, South-western Nigeria. Int J Agric Biol. 2009;10(1):89-92.

Pingle S, Basic Occupational Health Service. Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine.2009 13(1): 1-2 Forrer, A., Vounatsou, P., Sayasone, S., Vonghachack, Y., Bouakhasith, D., Utzinger, J., Akkhavong, K., & Odermatt, P. (2015). Risk Profiling of Hookworm Infection and Intensity in Southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic Using Bayesian Models. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003486

Alemu M, Kinfe B, Tadesse D. Wondemagegn M, Tadasse H, Endalew Y. Intestinal Parasitosis and Anemia among Patients in a Health Center, North Ethiopia. BMC Res Notes 10, 632 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-2957-2.

Downloads

Published

2024-10-01

Issue

Section

Original Article

How to Cite

Prevalence, Intensity, and Knowledge of Hookworm Infection Among Rural Fishermen and Farmers in Rivers State, Nigeria: An Occupational Health Perspective. (2024). Annals of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 61-67. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13883818