Assessment of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections Among Farmers in Kebbi State, Northwest Nigeria

Farmers in rural Nigeria are among the most vulnerable groups for soil-transmitted helminth infections due to their prolonged contact with potentially contaminated soil. This descriptive study assessed the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiases among subsistence farmers in Kebbi State, Northwest Nigeria. A total of 300 stool samples from adult farmers across three local government areas were examined using the Kato-Katz technique and formal-ether concentration method. Structured questionnaires captured occupational history, personal protective equipment usage, defecation habits, and awareness of helminth infections. Hookworm species, principally Necator americanus, was the most prevalent organism at 44.3 percent, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides at 28.7 percent. Absence of footwear during farming was the most significant predictor of hookworm infection. Anaemia was documented in 51.8 percent of heavily infected participants. The study recommends community-level deworming, health education targeting occupational risk, and promotion of personal protective practices among farmers in Northwest Nigeria as integral components of the national neglected tropical disease programme. Routine agricultural extension visits should incorporate parasitology awareness messaging. Keywords: soil-transmitted helminths, hookworm, farmers, Kebbi State, occupational exposure.