Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hookworm Infection among Primary School Children in Three Selected Schools in Moriba Town, Southern Sierra Leone

Abstract

Background: In tropical and subtropical developing nations, hookworm is the main cause of maternal and childhood illnesses. In vulnerable children, hookworm causes cognitive and growth retardation, intrauterine growth delay, prematurity, and low birth weight among newborns of infected mothers. The research aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hookworm infection among primary school children in three selected schools in the study area. Methods: This study utilized a case-control research approach. Stool specimens were collected and analyzed for intestinal parasites from children in classes 1-6. A total of sixty (60) enrolled students between the ages of 5 and 15 were chosen at random from three primary schools in Moriba town, Bo city, southern Sierra Leone. Results: The research findings revealed that the prevalence of hookworm infection was 47.4% among 5-7 years in the study area. The findings also demonstrated that there was no connection between the children’s sex and hookworm infection. It was discovered that women had a higher risk of contracting an infection than men. The prevalence of hookworm among the children and the accessibility of toilets in the home were significantly correlated. A significant association with hookworm infection was shown in the toilet facility type. Conclusion: Hookworm infections are extremely frequent in Sierra Leone among schoolchildren and are a major cause of the disease. Poor personal and environmental hygiene, poverty, and a favourable climate are important variables for the sustainability of transmission, but no policy-driven effort to prevent it has been made.