TY - JOUR KW - Attitudes and practices KW - knowledge, attitudes and practices KW - Deworming KW - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene KW - Hygiene Practices KW - Hookworms KW - Ascaris lumbricoides KW - Prevelance KW - school-aged children KW - intestinal parasitic infections AU - Nwadike CC AU - Mgbachi AJ AU - Ogbuefi EO AU - Olisa CS AU - Obiefule IE AU - Nnatuanya IO AU - Okeke OA AU - Okpara CC AU - Anayor GC AU - Ezedialu CM AB - Intestinal parasitic infections remain important public health concerns among school-aged children in settings where sanitation, hygiene and safe water access are limited. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of intestinal parasites, associated socio-demographic and hygiene-related factors, and knowledge, attitudes and practices among primary school children in Uke, Abatete and Oraukwu communities of Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Stool samples were collected from participating children and examined microscopically using the formalin-ether concentration technique, while structured questionnaires obtained information on demographic characteristics, sanitation, hygiene practices, deworming history and awareness. Of the 86 children whose stool samples were examined, 42 were positive for at least one intestinal parasite, giving an overall prevalence of 48.84%. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most frequently identified parasite, accounting for 37.21% of infections, followed by hookworm (12.79%). Less frequent parasites included Balantidium coli (3.49%), Strongyloides spp. (2.33%), Taenia spp. (2.33%) and Schistosoma haematobium (1.16%). Most socio-demographic and environmental variables were not significantly associated with infection status, although father’s occupation approached statistical significance (p = 0.060). Knowledge of transmission and prevention was generally poor, but attitudes towards preventive measures, deworming, hospital attendance and health education were favourable. The findings indicate a continuing burden of intestinal parasites among school children in the study area and support strengthened school-based health education, periodic deworming, improved sanitation and safe water interventions. BT - International Journal of Pathogen Research DA - 07/2026 DO - 10.9734/ijpr/2026/v15i4474 IS - 4 LA - ENG M3 - Article N2 - Intestinal parasitic infections remain important public health concerns among school-aged children in settings where sanitation, hygiene and safe water access are limited. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of intestinal parasites, associated socio-demographic and hygiene-related factors, and knowledge, attitudes and practices among primary school children in Uke, Abatete and Oraukwu communities of Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Stool samples were collected from participating children and examined microscopically using the formalin-ether concentration technique, while structured questionnaires obtained information on demographic characteristics, sanitation, hygiene practices, deworming history and awareness. Of the 86 children whose stool samples were examined, 42 were positive for at least one intestinal parasite, giving an overall prevalence of 48.84%. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most frequently identified parasite, accounting for 37.21% of infections, followed by hookworm (12.79%). Less frequent parasites included Balantidium coli (3.49%), Strongyloides spp. (2.33%), Taenia spp. (2.33%) and Schistosoma haematobium (1.16%). Most socio-demographic and environmental variables were not significantly associated with infection status, although father’s occupation approached statistical significance (p = 0.060). Knowledge of transmission and prevention was generally poor, but attitudes towards preventive measures, deworming, hospital attendance and health education were favourable. The findings indicate a continuing burden of intestinal parasites among school children in the study area and support strengthened school-based health education, periodic deworming, improved sanitation and safe water interventions. PB - Sciencedomain International PY - 2026 SP - 136 EP - 157 T2 - International Journal of Pathogen Research TI - Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Primary School Children in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria UR - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emmanuel-Ogbuefi/publication/410755977_Prevalence_of_Intestinal_Parasites_among_Primary_School_Children_in_Idemili_North_Local_Government_Area_of_Anambra_State_Southeast_Nigeria/links/6a628b4df475b23f400e66f8/Prevalenc VL - 15 SN - 2582-3876 ER -