Prevalence of Hookworm Infection among Patients Attending Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Hookworm infection has been recognized as one of the leading causes of child morbidity in the developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hookworm infection in patients attending Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria. A total of ninety (90) faecal samples were collected from patients, processed using formol-ether sedimentation technique and examined microscopically for ova and/or larvae of the parasite.  A questionnaire was administered to the patients to obtain socio-demographic and risk factors associated with hookworm infection. The data was statistically analyzed using Chi-square. Fifteen (15) patients (16.67%) were found to be infected with hookworm, among whom nine (9) were males (10%), six (6) females (6.667%), two (2) young (2.22%) and thirteen (13) adult (14.44%) individuals. There was no significant difference in infection prevalence between males and females while, a significant association between age and hookworm infection. The lowest prevalence (2.22%) was recorded among the young age (under 18 years) compared to the highest prevalence of 14.44% observed among the adult age group. There was a significant association between infection prevalence with occupation and source of water. Hookworm infection prevalence of 16.67% was estimated, age, occupation and water source were the socio-demographic and risk factors associated with hookworm infection.