Assessment of health knowledge and risk factors associated with intestinal helminths in tertiary schools in Abeokuta, Nigeria

摘要: A study was carried out on 2,020 students (54% from University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) and 46% Federal College Education, FCE, Osiele; using structured questionnaires focus group discussions to assess comparative health knowledge, risk factors, attitude practices associated with intestinal helminths. 59.5% (FCE Osiele) 49% (UNAAB) reside in the school hostel. Of 40.5% 51% that stay off-campus, 17.2% 15.7% reside in accommodation toilet facility, while respondents without access facility defaecate bushes. Most respondents (81.9% FCE Osiele, 79.5% UNAAB), use water for anal cleaning. 65% 59.6% Osiele UNAAB use water soap wash hands after defaecation. 35% 37.2% had passed out worms before, however, T-test paired analysis did not show any relationship between hand washing passage of worms (t = 6.895, p 0.092). causes worm infection, revealed a significant knowledge on infection worms 243.0 0.03). 48.1% 61% had received medical treatment infection. 85.8% 84% believed persons can be reinfected treatment. However, regular de-worming (43.3%) maintenance good hygiene habits (41.4%) are factors prevention. Due possible disease conditions may arise drinking contaminated water, 43.4% respondents resort pure sachet regularly, 50.8% drink it irregularly 5.8% drinks at parties. 77.8% of disposed off empty sachets dustbins within environment, 22.2% dispose the sachets indiscriminately. Government, they contribute greatly environmental sanitation life of its citizens through health education (46.6%), (29.9%), provision of social amenities (23.6%) people. Keywords :health knowledge, helminths, Abeokuta. Nigerian Journal Parasitology Vol. 27 2006: pp.76-80