Status of Some Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) among School-aged Children in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) infection is common among children living in rural areas in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa with serious public health significance. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the status of some NTDs among school-aged children in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria in September, 2023. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 school-aged children in primary and secondary schools during which urine, stool and soil samples were collected in a clean sample bottle and transported to the National Veterinary Institute (NVRI), Vom, for standard parasitological examinations. Also, questionnaires were administered to the subjects to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes and practices of parasitic infection. Stool samples were processed using Kato-Katz and the formalin-ether concentration methods for the screening of intestinal parasites. Urine samples were screened for Schistosoma haematobium eggs using the sedimentation technique. A modified Baermann funnel technique was used for the extraction of the geohelminths in the soil samples. Results: An overall prevalence of 38.75% (155/400) infections from nine parasites was recorded. The most dominant parasite obtained from the stool sample was Hookworm spp. 62 (15.5%). Only 1% (4/400) of the urine screened were infected by S. haematobium. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in the prevalence of parasitic infection in relation to sex and schools, respectively, but parasitic infections in relation to age showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). Of the seven (7) predisposing risk factors recorded, those who defecate using bush as well as river/pond as a source of potable water were highly infected. Conclusion: The high prevalence of parasitic infection recorded in this study is of public health concern. Recommendation: Hence, there is a need for continuous health education among school-aged children in schools to reduce the burden of parasites in the study area.