Helminthiasis and Academic Performance Among Secondary School Students in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria

Helminthic infections are well-established causes of cognitive impairment and educational underachievement among school-age children in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated the association between helminth infection status and academic performance among secondary school students in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. Three hundred students were enrolled from four schools across two local government areas. Stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz technique, and haemoglobin levels were measured to detect co-occurring anaemia. Academic performance was assessed by collecting cumulative examination scores for core subjects from school records with parental consent. A helminth prevalence of 46.7 percent was documented. Students with heavy-intensity infections showed statistically significant underperformance in mathematics and English compared to uninfected peers, with an average score difference of 12.4 percentage points. Co-infection with hookworm and iron-deficiency anaemia was strongly correlated with the poorest academic outcomes. Socioeconomic status acted as a significant confounding variable. The study recommends school-based deworming as both an educational and health intervention in Kogi State, with monitoring of academic progress as a key programme outcome measure. Keywords: helminth infection, academic performance, secondary students, Kogi State, school deworming.