School-based prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors in Dosso town, Niger republic

Introduction Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remain one of the major public health problems in developing countries. Assessing the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated factors in different localities is essential to improve control strategies. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional school-based study from November to December 2021. We selected study participants via a multi-stage cluster sampling technique. We used a structured questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic variables and potential risk factors. From each pupil, we collected a fresh stool sample for fresh examination and concentration using two techniques (Willis and simplified Ritchie). Results We enrolled 370 pupils aged 7 to 16 in our study. Of these, 56 (15.1%) were infested with one or more parasites. Protozoa were more common (14.6%) than helminths (0.5%). The rate of bi-parasitism was 1.4%. The predominant parasites were Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (4.3%) followed by Giardia lamblia (3.8%). Bivariate analysis showed that only age was significantly associated with the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections (p < 0.05). Conclusion These data show the persistence of protozoan infections as a major intestinal parasitic disease among schoolchildren in Niger. They also show the impact of improved living conditions and free government deworming programs on intestinal parasitic infections in school-age children in Niger. Key words: Intestinal parasitic infections, schoolchildren, Dosso town, Niger Republic.