The Role of Finger Sucking and Animal Domestication in the Prevalence of Agents of Diarrhoea in Orphanages in Benue State

ATU; Bernard Ortwer; JIMOH; Patrick Ozaveshe

Volume : IV, Issue : II, February - 2015

The Role of Finger Sucking and Animal Domestication in the Prevalence of Agents of Diarrhoea in Orphanages in Benue State

Atu, Bernard Ortwer, Jimoh, Patrick Ozaveshe

Abstract :

This study determined the prevalence of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum as agents of diarrhoea in children living in the orphanages in Benue State and the role of finger sucking and animal domestication in the prevalence of the parasites. Stools were collected from children (n=128) living in the four orphanages. The stools were screened with the Giardia and Cryptosporidium 2nd Generation ELISA test kits (Diagnostic Automation, Inc.). Cryptosporidium parvum and Gardia lamblia were highly prevalent (43.8%) with 28.9% been Gardia lamblia infection, 9.4% been Cryptosporidium parvum; and co-infection was 5.5%. Mkar orphanage (22/42) and Otukpo orphanage (11/21) had the highest prevalence (52.4%) but with the highest positive cases in Mkar, while the least prevalence (30.0%) of enteric protozoan infection was recorded in Mama Abayol, Makurdi. Finger sucking and practice of animal husbandry had significant (P<0.05) effect on the prevalence. Routine diagnosis of diarrhoeic stool specimens ought to the labouratories should include Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Finger sucking among the children should be disabused using simplified habit reversal method, while proper system of animal husbandry should be practiced for healthier living condition. Good personal hygiene should be encouraged in the orphanages so as to reduce the burden of pathogenic diseases.