Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Artisanal Gold Miners in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, are characterised by dense settlements, open defecation, limited sanitation facilities, and reliance on unprotected water sources, creating conditions highly conducive to the transmission of intestinal parasitic infections. This study investigates the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among artisanal gold miners in Zamfara State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three active mining communities in Anka, Maru, and Maradun Local Government Areas, enrolling 300 adult male miners. Fresh stool samples were processed using the direct wet mount and formal-ether concentration techniques, supplemented by Kato-Katz for helminth egg quantification. Structured questionnaires assessed WASH behaviours, mining site sanitation conditions, deworming history, and food and water sources. Expected parasites include Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm species, Strongyloides stercoralis, Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba histolytica. Current evidence from 2020 to 2024 highlights artisanal mining populations in Zamfara as severely underserved by health and sanitation services, with parasitic infections compounding lead poisoning-related morbidity. This study contributes the first comprehensive parasitological profile of this occupational cohort in Zamfara State. Findings will be submitted to the Zamfara State Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. Keywords: intestinal parasites, artisanal gold miners, Zamfara State, occupational health, sanitation.