Epidemiological Studies on Intestinal Parasitosis and Tuberculosis Co-Infection in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

The study was epidemiological studies on intestinal parasitosis and tuberculosis co-infection in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study employed experimental research design. The population of the study comprises 341,038 projected population of KatsinaAla Local Government Area. The sample size of 514 of three distinct categories; suspected TB patients, patients with active TB and healthy volunteers were selected for the study using random sampling technique. The instruments for data collection included a structured questionnaire and a diagnostic sheet. Data was analysed using charts, tables, frequencies, percentages and simple regression analysis. The results of the study indicated that there was prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in active and suspected TB patients among council wards in Katsina-Ala LGA given that out of the 514 (100%) participants sampled and examined, 308 (59.92%) of them were infected with intestinal parasitic infections. The study also found out that the predominant intestinal parasitic infections among active and suspected TB patients in the study area was E. histolytica since out of the total number of 313 (100%) of those with TB suspects and confirmed cases, 143 (45.69%) were infected with E. histolytica, followed by hookworms 79 (25.24%). Furthermore, males were more vulnerable to intestinal parasitosis and tuberculosis co-infection in the study area, 191(77.33%) than their female counterpart that were 56 (22.67%). Finally, the study discovered that demographic factor such as education, occupation and age were not significant factors influencing the co-infection of intestinal parasites and tuberculosis in the study area. Therefore, the study concluded that there was prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in active and suspected TB patients among council wards in Katsina-Ala LGA. The study recommends that both government and other stakeholders should sensitize the households in the study area on basic hygiene practices in order to enable them to be free from intestinal parasitic infections and TB diseases.