Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Among Street Food Handlers in Lagos State, South West Nigeria

Street food handlers occupy a critical position in the transmission of foodborne parasitic infections, particularly in densely populated urban settings where regulatory oversight of food hygiene is limited. This study determines the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among street food vendors in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was adopted, targeting 300 street food handlers from busy commercial districts in Lagos Island, Alimosho, and Oshodi-Isale Local Government Areas. Stool samples from participants were examined using direct wet mount and formal-ether concentration techniques, supplemented by Lugol's iodine staining for protozoan identification. A structured questionnaire collected data on food handling practices, handwashing behaviour, access to potable water, availability of toilet facilities, and medical history. Expected parasites include Ascaris lumbricoides, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and hookworm species. Evidence from 2020 to 2024 documents high intestinal parasite carriage rates among food vendors in Nigerian urban centres, posing significant risks to consumer populations. This study aims to generate prevalence data and identify hygiene-related risk factors in Lagos's informal food sector. Findings will be communicated to the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for the revision of food vendor registration and training protocols. Keywords: intestinal parasites, street food handlers, Lagos State, food hygiene, parasitological survey.