Awareness and Uptake of Preventive Chemotherapy for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Among Mothers in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria

Preventive chemotherapy through periodic mass drug administration with albendazole or mebendazole is the cornerstone of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control in school-age children, yet programme effectiveness depends critically on community awareness and caregiver acceptance. This study assesses the awareness and uptake of preventive chemotherapy for soil-transmitted helminths among mothers of primary school children in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was employed, recruiting 320 mothers from three local government areas including Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, and Olamaboro. A structured questionnaire assessed awareness of soil-transmitted helminthiasis symptoms, knowledge of deworming benefits and safety, previous child participation in school deworming, and barriers to uptake including fears of side effects. Evidence from 2020 to 2024 documents suboptimal deworming coverage in several North Central Nigerian states, with maternal awareness and caregiver hesitancy cited as important programmatic bottlenecks. This study will generate data on knowledge gaps and uptake determinants that can guide targeted community mobilisation strategies. Results will be presented to the Kogi State Ministry of Health and the NTD Control Programme to strengthen social mobilisation activities for future mass drug administration rounds. Keywords: preventive chemotherapy, soil-transmitted helminths, maternal awareness, Kogi State, mass drug administration.