Epidemiology and Control of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases in Nomadic School Communities of Jigawa State

Nomadic and semi-nomadic populations present unique challenges for the implementation of school-based deworming programmes, as their mobility disrupts programme continuity and limits coverage monitoring. This study investigated the epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminthiases and the operational feasibility of deworming interventions in schools serving nomadic communities in Jigawa State, Northwest Nigeria. Stool samples from 280 pupils enrolled in nomadic schools were examined using the Kato-Katz technique and formal-ether concentration method. Programme implementation data were obtained from state and local government education and health officers through structured interviews. Hookworm prevalence was 39.3 percent, Ascaris lumbricoides 31.4 percent, and Trichuris trichiura 22.1 percent. Deworming coverage in nomadic schools was 41.7 percent compared to 68.3 percent in sedentary schools within the same local government areas. Teacher absenteeism and irregular school attendance were the primary barriers to delivery. Albendazole stockouts coinciding with seasonal migration periods further reduced programme effectiveness. The study proposes a flexible, mobile deworming model using community health extension workers coordinated with seasonal movement patterns to improve programme reach among nomadic communities in Jigawa State. Keywords: soil-transmitted helminths, nomadic communities, school deworming, Jigawa State, operational challenges.