Wash Deployment and Geo-helminth Ova Dispersion in Primary Schools in Akure North and Owo Local Government Areas, Ondo State, Nigeria

Soil-Transmitted Helminths (geo-helminths) are intestinal parasites causing human infections that are soil-borne. The study assessed the level of soil contamination with geo-helminths ova and also evaluated the level of compliance to WASH policies in some selected public and private schools in Akure North and Owo Local Government Areas of Ondo state, respectively. The study was conducted in the major districts of the two towns. Methods Soil samples were collected from three (3) different locations within each school premise: Toilet areas, classroom and playground. Assessment sheets were used to evaluate data on indicators of compliance to WASH interventions. Modified Baemann’s culture technique was used in the extraction of geo-helminths larvae and sedimentation techniques were used in the concentration and isolation of geo-helminths eggs. The significant difference in soil contamination between public and private schools was obtained using statistical analysis. Result Of the 162 soil samples examined from each local government area, Akure North had the highest number of contaminated samples, n=116 (71.61%), while Owo local government had the least, n =88 (54.32%). Four (4) different geo-helminth species were identified; Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Trichuris trichiura. The most occurring parasites seen in Akure North were hookworm larvae (67.83%), Strongyloides stercoralis (67.83%), hookworm ova (11.25%) and ova of Ascaris lumbricoides (7.56%). Likewise, Hookworm larvae had the highest level of occurrence (51.67%), while Trichuris trichiura was the least occurring (0.77%) in Owo local government area. Public schools had the higher parasite count 668/780 (85.64%), while private schools had the lesser parasite count, 112 /780 (14.36%). Conclusion The study revealed poor deployment of WASH in the schools, and children were predisposed to geo-helminths infections due to the high level of contamination, particularly in the public schools.