Assessment of Open Defecation and Prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminthes among a Tertiary Institution Students in Nigeria

Open defecation is a state of passing the indigestible food from the gastrointestinal tract to the open space. This mostly results in the spread of pathogenic microorganisms to susceptible person with majority of the symptoms being diarrhea especially when the infection is caused by intestinal parasite. The illiterates are most times implicated as group of people defecating openly together with lack of toilet facilities. This study was designed to examine open defecation habit among literate and its cause. The study was conducted among the students of a Nigerian University. The hostel premises was surveyed for feaces. A hundred and eight Fresh feaces samples found around the hostel premises were examined microscopically using formol ether concentration technique for presence of soil helminthes. The hostel premises surveyed showed opened defecation on going among the students. Twelve (12%) percent of the stool examined were positive for soil helminthes (Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm). The soil helminthes infection was not gender associated (P>0.05) at 95% confidence interval (CI). Nine point one (9.1%) of male had mixed infection while 3.0% had mixed infection among the female. The use of anti-helminthes was statistically significant (P < 0.05), being more predominant among the female students. The contributing factors to open defecation among the students were; inadequate water supply, insufficient toilet facility, dirtiness of the toilets especially when cleaners are not around and fear of vaginal infections. University management need to ensure frequent flow of water in the hostels, a toilet may be attached to each room to create sense of belonging among the students which will ensure proper cleaning of the toilets. Likewise lectures on the implication of open defecation on health should be conducted periodically for the students.