Geophagy as risk behaviour for gastrointestinal nematode infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in a humid tropical zone of Nigeria.

Njoku Ivoke, Nnenna Ikpor, Obinna Ivoke, Felicia Ekeh, Ngozi Ezenwaji, Gregory Odo, Florence Iyaji
, Uwakwe Onoja, Joseph Eyo

1. University of Nigeria, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology
2. Jackson State University, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health
3. Kogi State University, Department of Biological Sciences
4. University of Nigeria, Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agriculture

Abstract
Background: Geophagy is wide spread among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess intestinal nematode infections among geophagous pregnant women in Southern
Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Methods:Pregnant women were aged 17-45 years at gestational ages of ≥ 14 to 24 weeks on hospital enrolment were sampled.
Data on geophagy was collected using structured questionnaire. Gastrointestinal nematode status of the participants was determined by stool analyses. Soil types ingested were examined for intestinal nematode ova / larvae.
Results: The prevalence of geophagy (46.4%) was associated with socio-demographic characteristics. Ascaris lumbricoidesand
hookworm were associated with geophagy while Trichuris trichiuraand Strongyloides stercoralishad no association. Prevalence of A.
lumbricoides, T. trichiuraand S. stercoralisdiffered significantly (p<0.05) between geophagous and non-geophagous women. The
soil types consumed had eggs / larvae of A. lumbricoidesand T. trichiura. Geophagy is a risk behaviour directly associated with A.
lumbricoides, hookworm, T. trichiura, and to a lesser extent S. stercoralisinfection among pregnant women.
Conclusion:Sensitization and mass education of pregnant women on the dangers of geophagy is needed. Furthermore, deworming of pregnant women should be integrated into the healthcare delivery system of the State.
Keywords: Geophagy, gastrointestinal nematode, pregnant women, humid tropics