Soil transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic: A case study of the Bonsaaso cluster in the Amansie West District of Ashanti Region.

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2014-10-16
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Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) and Schistosomiasis infections are known to cause high morbidity as well as reduce haemoglobin levels causing anaemia. These infections as well as anaemia during pregnancy are common in sub-Saharan Africa and are a major public health problem in developing countries. The study was carried out to determine STHs and Schistosomiasis among pregnant women in Bonsaaso Cluster in the Amansie West District. A total of 186 women attending antenatal clinic within the Bonsaaso cluster took part in the study after their consent was sought. Stool and urine samples were collected from the participants as well as some demographic information through a structured questionnaire. Sedimentation and formol ether methods were used for examination of the urine and stool samples respectively. The mean age of the women was 26 years from 15- 41 years. Most of the women were farmers (46%) and 50% in their second trimester. Most of the pregnant women (53%) were infected with at least one species of the soil transmitted helminths with hookworm being the most prevalent (23%) whiles eleven percent (11%) of all the urine examined had S.haematobium eggs. In all, 81% of the participants had their haemoglobin levels below the recommended value by WHO (11g/dl) for pregnant women. Infection with soil transmitted helminths is high among pregnant women in the cluster especially the farmers, and thus calls for appropriate control interventions
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Environmental Science).
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