Helminth Infections in Primary School Children in Flood-Affected Communities of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria

Annual flooding in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria exacerbates the burden of helminth infections among school-age children by contaminating soil and water bodies with infective larvae and eggs, undermining gains from periodic deworming campaigns. This study investigates the prevalence and species distribution of helminth infections in primary school children living in flood-affected communities of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three flood-prone communities in Sagbama and Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Areas, enrolling 300 children aged 5 to 15 years. Stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz technique and formal-ether concentration method. Shoe-wearing habits, handwashing practices, toilet access, flood exposure frequency, and deworming history were recorded from parents through structured questionnaires. Recent literature from 2020 to 2024 highlights the disproportionate helminth burden in the Niger Delta, where prolonged waterlogging extends the survival of infective stages in the environment. This study will quantify infection rates and intensities, stratified by flood zone exposure and deworming status, to assess the adequacy of current school-based deworming coverage. Findings will be presented to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education and Health for revision of deworming schedules in flood-vulnerable communities. Keywords: helminth infections, flood-affected communities, Bayelsa State, school children, Kato-Katz.