ABSTRACT

Waste management is an important sanitary and public health problem in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The problem seems to be defying solution. A survey aimed at determining the human parasites associated with fruits and vegetables sold around dump sites in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area,  Rivers State and the public health implications were carried out between October 2018 to October 2019. It covered dumpsites in areas like Rumuokoro, Rumuodamaya, East-West Road (Nkpolu), Choba, Alakahia, Aluu-Uniport,Rumuosi/Rumuekini,Ozuoba and Rumuola all in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 450 copies of questionnaires were administered, randomly to the people living very close to selected refuse dumps in the study area to seek information on the hazard of refuse dumps on the socio-demographic characteristics and the knowledge, attitude and practice of the respondents in the study area on disposal. Out of the 450 copies of questionnaires administered, 420 were returned while 30 persons were excluded from the study because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Four hundred  and twenty (420) samples of fruits and vegetables sold very close to the dumpsites in the study area were brought and examined using sedimentation method. While 420 samples of refuse sludge were collected from the study area and examined using Baerman funnel method. Four hundred and twenty (420) samples of faeces were also collected from the study area and examined using direct wet preparation and formol/ether concentration methods. Socio-demographic characteristics revealed that males 115 (59.30%) were more infected than the females 77(40.10%),while age group 11-20 years 64(33.33) had the highest infection rate. People that stayed less than 1 kilometer away from the dumpsites 63(32.81%) were more infected while secondary school students 67 (34.89%) were more infected, those that had stayed less than 6yrs 61(27.60%) in the study area were more infected. Regarding occupation, traders 47 (43.39%) recorded highest infections. Out of the 420 samples of fruits and vegetables examined, 313 (74.52%) were positive for parasites. Out of the 420 samples of refuse sludge examined, 301 (71.7%) were positive for parasites. while out of the 420 samples of faeces examined, 192 (45.71%) persons were infected with single and multiple infections. The number of respondents (87.85%) indicated that they are aware of the effects of parasites associated with living very close to dumpsites. Most of the respondents (73.57%) agreed that they dispose waste at the dumpsite and (47.85%) strongly agreed that the most serious factors militating against proper waste disposal in Obio/Akpor is insufficient fund. Intestinal parasites identified were Ascari lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica, Hookworm spp, Trichuris trichuria, Strongyloides stercoralis, Giardia lamblia, Cylospora cayetanensis and Toxocari canis. The location of the refuse dumps affects the level of prevalence (x²=16.9 and P<0.05). The presence of these parasites in refuse dumps constitute a potential hazard to individuals since these parasites becomes dispersed in the environment through flies, poor personal hygiene, setting of unwashed fruits and vegetables and inefficient environmental sanitation. Community health education and mass awareness should be encouraged by relevant authorities.