Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosoma Haematobium Infections: A Community based survey among school children and adults in Wamakko Town, Sokoto State Nigeria

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
Title Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosoma Haematobium Infections: A Community based survey among school children and adults in Wamakko Town, Sokoto State Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 2
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 12-21
URL http://www.scopemed.org/?jft=52&ft=52-1372823032
Abstract
Background: Schistosomiasis poses great effects in humans and is still a major public health problem especially during the young age. Objective: To determine Current prevalence and intensity of urinary Schistosomiasis infection among primary school children and adults in Wamakko town, Sokoto state Nigeria. Methodology: A Community based cross sectional epidemiological survey on urinary Schistosomiasis was undertaken between November 2011 and September, 2012. A total of 300 urine samples involving subjects aged between 5 to 30 years and above were collected and analysed for the eggs of Schistosoma haematobium by microscopy using Standard filtration techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20 version in which p<0.05 was set as significant. Chi-square test was used to determine significant difference between variables. Relevant data was obtained using simple random sampling and interviewed structured questionnaire to obtained socio-demographic data of the subjects. . Results: Of the 300 samples analysed, 115(38.3%) were found to be infected. The mean eggs intensity of infection was 134.0 eggs/10ml urine. The infection was higher among males 110 (43.7%) than the females 5(10.4%), although the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). A total of three hundred Subjects participated in the study and were screened for urinary Schistosomiasis. The results of the findings shows that gender was among the statistically significant variable p<0.05. Out of 252 males examined, 111 (44.0%) were positive for the intensity of infection and 85(33.7%) had light infection,19 (7.5%) had moderate while heavy and very heavy infection shows decrease in intensity Only 10.4% of the female gender shows positive for Schistosoma haematobium infection intensity. Conclusion: Finding of this study shows that urinary Schistosomiasis was found to have high intensity and prevalence rate in the area studied and the school aged children and those that engaged in fishing are the most infected and are at higher risk of being infected every day due to their exposure to the infected water. This signifies that Mass Drug Administration should be intensified to halt the infection cycle.

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