Objective: To investigate the prevalence, intensity of infection and control of soil-transmitted nematodes in primary school pupils of urban, suburban and rural localities.
Setting: Buea Health District.
Design: A cross section experimental study.
Subjects: Three hundred and forty primary school children.
Intervention: Mebendazole treatment complemented with health education.
Results: The overall prevalence rate of soil-transmitted nematodes in the Buea Health District was 59.1%. The infection rate was significantly different in the urban, suburban and rural localities of the health district (P<0.01), with the rural area having the highest rate of infection. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most predominant parasite. The intensity of infection with the various helminth species was not significantly different between children of urban, suburban and rural localities. Mebendazole treatment significantly reduced the intensities of infection with Ascaris and Trichuris (P<0.05). The treatment, however, was ineffective against hookworm infection. Re-infection rate with Ascaris and Trichuris was slower in children who additionally received health education than in those who received only anthelminthic treatment.
Conclusion: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms are the predominant nematodes reported in children of urban, suburban and rural localities in the health district. Health education is advocated as a complement to chemotherapy in the control of soil-transmitted nematodes.