Purpose: To determine the prevalence and factors responsible for the spread of intestinal parasites in Edo State and suggest strategies for their control.

Methods: This prospective and cross sectional study involved 3601 (798 males, 1002 females and 1801 children) selected randomly from the 18 local government areas of Edo State. Stool samples collected from the selected participants were analysed using standard techniques. Using a structured questionnaire, factors which disposed to increase in the prevalence of intestinal parasites were investigated between April 2007 and March 2008.

Results: High prevalence (11.3%) of intestinal parasites was recorded in the study. Those drinking well water had the highest prevalence, followed by those who used tap water and least among people who used borehole water. Infection rate was higher in children who lived in bushy surrounding and lower in children who lived in marshy surrounding. The highest infection rate of 10% was observed in chldren who lived in environments where refuse was indiscriminately disposed and lowest (2.5%) in adult males who inhabited environments where refuse was collected in dust bins. Children who ate outside their homes and with unwashed hands were more likely to be infected than adult males who ate at home.

Conclusion: There was high prevalence of parasitic infections in the State. Factors including water source, environment, method of refuse disposal, feeding pattern, sewage disposal, socio-economic status and cultural habits were identified to be contributing to parasitic infection.

Keywords: Socio-economic factors, parasitic infection, Edo state, Nigeria.