Knowledge of the Relationship between Household Sanitation and Helminth Infection among Secondary School Students in Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo State

Abstract

The present study investigated knowledge of the link between household sanitation and the prevalence of helminth infections among selected secondary schools in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State. Using a cross-sectional descriptive design, the study employed a multistage sampling technique to recruit 384 students from five political wards. Data collection used a structured questionnaire to assess sociodemographic characteristics, sanitation facilities, and health knowledge, and included laboratory analysis of stool samples to determine infection status. Results indicated an overall prevalence of 30.5% (117 students), with Ascaris lumbricoides (52.1%) the predominant parasite, followed by hookworm (33.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (14.5%). Household sanitation assessment revealed that 31.3% of respondents relied on unimproved pit latrines or practiced open defecation, while 29.4% depended on untreated river or rainwater. Crucially, only 21.1% of students had access to soap and water for handwashing. Although 72.1% of participants correctly identified swallowing eggs as the primary infection route, a significant gap between knowledge and practice was observed, as 47.1% reported deworming only when symptoms appeared. Furthermore, 28.4% of students perceived open defecation merely as an environmental nuisance rather than a direct health risk. Inferential statistical analysis using Chi-Square Tests of Independence showed no statistically significant association between primary toilet facility and helminth infection status (X² = 0.12, df = 3, p = 0.990), handwashing materials and infection status (X² = 6.49, df = 3, p = 0.090), or paternal educational attainment and environmental health knowledge (X² = 0.50, df = 3, p = 0.919). These findings indicate that poor sanitation conditions and misconceptions were evident, although the tested categorical associations did not reach the 0.05 level of statistical significance. The study concludes that high infection rates appear to be sustained by poor sanitation infrastructure and specific misconceptions despite general health awareness. Consequently, implementation of targeted school-based health education programs focusing on transmission dynamics and urgent government investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities are recommended to effectively break the cycle of reinfection.