PARASITIC CONTAMINATION OF SOIL SAMPLES IN PRIMARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS IN JOS NORTH AND SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS, PLATEAU STATE

Background: Parasitological contamination of soil in school environments poses a public health risk to school-aged children, particularly in settings with inadequate sanitation. School playgrounds are potential hotspots for parasite transmission among children. This study was conducted to determine the level of parasitic contamination of primary school playground soils in Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria, and to assess hygiene, sanitation, and behavioural factors that may influence exposure to soil-borne parasites among school-aged children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2022 and November 2024. A total of 100 (2–3cm depth) topsoil samples were collected from selected primary school playgrounds using a purposive sampling technique. Collected samples were processed by sucrose flotation technique to detect helminth eggs and larvae. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Of the 100 soil samples examined, 19 were positive for at least one STH parasite, giving an overall prevalence of 19.0%. Hookworm larvae were the most frequently encountered parasite with a prevalence of 8.0%, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (3.0%), and larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis (2.0%) and Taenia spp. (4.0%). There was no statistically significant difference in parasitic contamination of schools' playgrounds between Jos North (20.0%) and Jos South (18.0%) (χ² = 0.08, p = 0.78).

Conclusion: The detection of STHs in schools’ playgrounds in both LGAs is a reflection of environmental contamination by human waste and continued risk of transmission among school-aged children. The presence of infective stages of STHs in primary schools’ playgrounds underscores the need for improved sanitation, strengthened school-based deworming programs, and enhanced environmental hygiene practices.