Current Status of Intestinal Parasites among Pre School Children in Eke, Okpokwu Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria

Intestinal parasitic infection is a disease of public health importance in developing countries like Nigeria. Conducive environmental factors in developing countries accelerate parasitic growth and development. The aim of this study is to determine the current status of parasitic infection of preschool children in Benue State. A cross sectional study design was used in this study and computer generated table of random numbers was used to select the respondents. Univarate and bivarate analysis were computed using SPSS version 23. In bivarate analysis variables with p value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasite was 16.2% and the mean age of the children was 27.8 months. Fifty eight of the children were infected and Ascarislumbricoides was the most prevalent parasites. Families using pit latrine had the heighest prevance of parasitic infestation with the prevalence of 69.2%.There was a statistically significant association between methods of waste disposal and parasite infestation. Methods of water treatment were also statistically significant with intestinal parasitic infestation