Authors

U F EkpoD B OlabinkeG A DedekeB I Akeredolu-Ale ¹ Federal University of Agrciulture, Abeokuta, Nigeria;  ² Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Discussion

Despite repeated treatment with antihelminthic drugs, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) remains an important factor in school children morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. We designed a health education board game "Worms and Ladders" and evaluated its potential for promoting good hygiene practices among school children for the control of STH. The evaluation employed a randomized control trial across six primary schools in Abeokuta, Nigeria. A total of 372 pupils enrolled in the study of which 212 were in the intervention group in three schools, and 160 were in the control group in three schools.  Baseline knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) were obtained with a questionnaire followed by the collection of stool samples for STH diagnosis. Participants were treated with Albendazole. The intervention group played the “Worm and Ladder” game for three months. Prevalence of STH dropped from 25.0% to 10.4% in the intervention group and 49.4% to 33.3% in the control group at three months post treatment. It further dropped to 5.6% in the intervention group but increased to 37.2% in the control group at six months post treatment. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in post-treatment prevalence among the two groups. KAP on transmission, control and prevention of STH significantly improved (p<0.05) from 5.2% to 97.9% in the intervention group compared to (6.2% to 7.1%) in the control group.