This pilot study was undertaken to assess the status of school-based water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) resources and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria. Two schools: Sir Herbert Nursery\Primary School (SHNPS) Enugwu Ukwu and St. Theresa Nursery\Primary School (STNPS) Nimo were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The status and conditions of WASH resources were determined using the modified FMoH checklist for improved WASH intervention. Stool samples were also collected from 49 and 54 pupils in the respective schools, and screened for STH infections using direct smear and formol-ether concentration techniques. Test of statistical significance was done using Mann-Whitney, Cochran and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests in SPSS Version 25.0, at 5% significance level. Overall STH prevalence was 6.8%; 4.1% in SHNPS and 9.3% in STNPS (P > 0.05). Males and females recorded 9.3% and 4.1% prevalence respectively (P > 0.05). Age related prevalence were 2.7% and 17.9% for age groups 5-10 and 11-15 years respectively (P < 0.05). Parasite (STH) specific prevalence were 3.9%, 1.0%, and 1.9% for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuria and Hookworm respectively (P > 0.05). SHNPS versus STNPS recorded WASH scores of 5/5 vs. 2/5 for improved water source (P > 0.05), 4/5 vs. 3/5 for sanitation condition (P > 0.05) and 2/5 vs. 2/5 for environmental condition (P > 0.05). These findings revealed: presence of STH infection, poor and unequal WASH status in the study area. Standard of WASH facilities and practices should be improved in schools, and more health education provided to enable effective control of STH infections among school-aged children.
Published in | Journal of Health and Environmental Research (Volume 11, Issue 2) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12 |
Page(s) | 38-47 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
WASH, STH, Prevalence, Primary School, Nimo, Enugu-Ukwu, Nigeria
WASH resource | Scores and Interpretation |
---|---|
Water Component | |
Improved Water source | Borehole present =1, Absence=0 |
Condition of water source | If functional=1, if not=0 |
Distance of water source | Within the school premises=1, if not=0 |
Frequency of water supply | If accessible all day=1, if not=0 |
Number of water sources | Presence of at least one source=1, if not=0 |
Sanitation Component | |
Presence of Toilet | If present=1, if not=0 |
Condition of Toilet | Toilet without odor, flies or littering fecal matter=1, if not=0 |
Type of toilet in use | Presence of improved toilet facility (flush or pour, pit latrine with lid) =1, absence= 0 |
Soaps in toilet | Presence of soaps in toilet=1, Absence=0 |
Presence of water or tissue for use after defecation | If present=1, Absent=0 |
Hygiene Component | |
Presence of bushes | Presence of bushes=0, Absence=1 |
Presence of garbage can | If present=1, Absent=0 |
Provision of hand-wash facility | Presence of water and soap=1, Absence=0 |
Presence of authorized food vendors within school premises | Authorized food vendors = 1, unauthorized food vendors = 0 |
Usage of common cups in classrooms | Present = 0, absence=1 |
School Name | Variable | Category | Number examined (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Sir Herbert N/Ps | Gender | Male | 29 (59.2) |
Female | 20 (40.8) | ||
Age range | 5-10 years | 33 (67.3) | |
11-15 years | 16 (32.7) | ||
St. Theresa N/Ps | Gender | Male | 25 (46.3) |
Female | 29 (53.7) | ||
Age range | 5-10 years | 42 (77.8) | |
11-15 years | 12 (22.2) |
Variable | Categories | Number examined | Number infected | Prevalence rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Species of STH detected | A. lumbricoides | 103 | 4 | 3.9% |
T. trichuria | 103 | 1 | 1.0% | |
Hookworm | 103 | 2 | 1.9% | |
School | SHNPs | 49 | 2 | 4.1% |
STNPs | 54 | 5 | 9.3% | |
Gender of the pupils | Male | 54 | 5 | 9.3% |
Female | 49 | 2 | 4.1% | |
Age group of the pupils | 5-10 years | 75 | 2 | 2.7% |
11-15 years | 28 | 5 | 17.9% |
WASH Resources | Scores by Schools | ||
---|---|---|---|
Components | Specific items | SH N/Ps | ST N/Ps |
Water component | Water source | Hand pump Borehole (1.0) | Borehole (1.0) |
Number of water sources | One (1.0) | One (1.0) | |
Conditions of water sources | Functional (1.0) | Not functional (0.0) | |
Frequency of water supply | Daily (1.0) | None (0.0) | |
Distance of water source | Within (1.0) | None (0.0) | |
Total score | 5.0 | 2.0 | |
Sanitation component | Presence of toilet | Present (1.0) | Present (1.0) |
Type of toilet | Water Closet (WC) (1.0) | Water Closet (WC) (1.0) | |
Condition of toilet | Dirty (0.0) | Clean (1.0) | |
Provision of soap for hand wash | Present (1.0) | None (0.0) | |
Provision of tissue \ water for use | Yes (1.0) | None (0.0) | |
Total score | 4.0 | 3.0 | |
Hygiene component | Presence of bushes | No (1.0) | Yes (0.0) |
Presence of garbage cans | Yes (0.0) | Yes (0.0) | |
Usage of common cups | Yes (0.0) | No (1.0) | |
Presence of hand wash facilities | Yes (1.0) | No (0.0) | |
Presence of authorized food vendors. | No (0.0) | Yes (1.0) | |
Total score | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
Grand Total Score | 11.0 / 15.0 | 7.0 / 15.0 |
FMoH | Federal Ministry of Health |
MDA | Mass Drug Administration |
PC | Preventive Chemotherapy |
PHC | Primary Health Centre |
SPSS | Statistical Package for Social Sciences |
STH | Soil Transmitted Helminth |
WASH | Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
WC | Water Closet |
WHO | World Health Organization |
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APA Style
Egbuche, C., Amoke, C., Okalu, U., Egbuche, F., Obiakor, U., et al. (2025). Status of School-Based Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) Resources and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections in Rural Nigeria: A Pilot Study. Journal of Health and Environmental Research, 11(2), 38-47. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12
ACS Style
Egbuche, C.; Amoke, C.; Okalu, U.; Egbuche, F.; Obiakor, U., et al. Status of School-Based Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) Resources and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections in Rural Nigeria: A Pilot Study. J. Health Environ. Res. 2025, 11(2), 38-47. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12
AMA Style
Egbuche C, Amoke C, Okalu U, Egbuche F, Obiakor U, et al. Status of School-Based Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) Resources and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections in Rural Nigeria: A Pilot Study. J Health Environ Res. 2025;11(2):38-47. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12
@article{10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12, author = {Chukwudi Egbuche and Cornelius Amoke and Uchenna Okalu and Francisca Egbuche and Ugochukwu Obiakor and Michael Chimezie}, title = {Status of School-Based Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) Resources and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections in Rural Nigeria: A Pilot Study }, journal = {Journal of Health and Environmental Research}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {38-47}, doi = {10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jher.20251102.12}, abstract = {This pilot study was undertaken to assess the status of school-based water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) resources and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria. Two schools: Sir Herbert Nursery\Primary School (SHNPS) Enugwu Ukwu and St. Theresa Nursery\Primary School (STNPS) Nimo were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The status and conditions of WASH resources were determined using the modified FMoH checklist for improved WASH intervention. Stool samples were also collected from 49 and 54 pupils in the respective schools, and screened for STH infections using direct smear and formol-ether concentration techniques. Test of statistical significance was done using Mann-Whitney, Cochran and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests in SPSS Version 25.0, at 5% significance level. Overall STH prevalence was 6.8%; 4.1% in SHNPS and 9.3% in STNPS (P > 0.05). Males and females recorded 9.3% and 4.1% prevalence respectively (P > 0.05). Age related prevalence were 2.7% and 17.9% for age groups 5-10 and 11-15 years respectively (P Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuria and Hookworm respectively (P > 0.05). SHNPS versus STNPS recorded WASH scores of 5/5 vs. 2/5 for improved water source (P > 0.05), 4/5 vs. 3/5 for sanitation condition (P > 0.05) and 2/5 vs. 2/5 for environmental condition (P > 0.05). These findings revealed: presence of STH infection, poor and unequal WASH status in the study area. Standard of WASH facilities and practices should be improved in schools, and more health education provided to enable effective control of STH infections among school-aged children.}, year = {2025} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Status of School-Based Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) Resources and Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections in Rural Nigeria: A Pilot Study AU - Chukwudi Egbuche AU - Cornelius Amoke AU - Uchenna Okalu AU - Francisca Egbuche AU - Ugochukwu Obiakor AU - Michael Chimezie Y1 - 2025/07/18 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12 DO - 10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12 T2 - Journal of Health and Environmental Research JF - Journal of Health and Environmental Research JO - Journal of Health and Environmental Research SP - 38 EP - 47 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2472-3592 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20251102.12 AB - This pilot study was undertaken to assess the status of school-based water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) resources and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria. Two schools: Sir Herbert Nursery\Primary School (SHNPS) Enugwu Ukwu and St. Theresa Nursery\Primary School (STNPS) Nimo were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The status and conditions of WASH resources were determined using the modified FMoH checklist for improved WASH intervention. Stool samples were also collected from 49 and 54 pupils in the respective schools, and screened for STH infections using direct smear and formol-ether concentration techniques. Test of statistical significance was done using Mann-Whitney, Cochran and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests in SPSS Version 25.0, at 5% significance level. Overall STH prevalence was 6.8%; 4.1% in SHNPS and 9.3% in STNPS (P > 0.05). Males and females recorded 9.3% and 4.1% prevalence respectively (P > 0.05). Age related prevalence were 2.7% and 17.9% for age groups 5-10 and 11-15 years respectively (P Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuria and Hookworm respectively (P > 0.05). SHNPS versus STNPS recorded WASH scores of 5/5 vs. 2/5 for improved water source (P > 0.05), 4/5 vs. 3/5 for sanitation condition (P > 0.05) and 2/5 vs. 2/5 for environmental condition (P > 0.05). These findings revealed: presence of STH infection, poor and unequal WASH status in the study area. Standard of WASH facilities and practices should be improved in schools, and more health education provided to enable effective control of STH infections among school-aged children. VL - 11 IS - 2 ER -