Geophagy as risk behaviour for gastrointestinal nematode infections
among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in a humid tropical
zone of Nigeria.
Background: Geophagy is wide spread among pregnant women in Ebonyi
State, Nigeria. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess
intestinal nematode infections among geophagous pregnant women in
Southern Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: Pregnant women were aged 17-45
years at gestational ages of 65 14 to 24 weeks on hospital
enrolment were sampled. Data on geophagy was collected using structured
questionnaire. Gastrointestinal nematode status of the participants was
determined by stool analyses. Soil types ingested were examined for
intestinal nematode ova / larvae. Results: The prevalence of geophagy
(46.4%) was associated with socio-demographic characteristics. Ascaris
lumbricoides and hookworm were associated with geophagy while Trichuris
trichiura and Strongyloides stercoralis had no association.
Prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and S. stercoralis differed
significantly (p<0.05) between geophagous and non-geophagous women.
The soil types consumed had eggs / larvae of A. lumbricoides and T.
trichiura. Geophagy is a risk behaviour directly associated with A.
lumbricoides, hookworm, T. trichiura, and to a lesser extent S.
stercoralis infection among pregnant women. Conclusion: Sensitization
and mass education of pregnant women on the dangers of geophagy is
needed. Furthermore, deworming of pregnant women should be integrated
into the healthcare delivery system of the State