Influence of Some Demographic Factors on Infection of Schistosomiasis: The Case of Njombe-Penja Population, in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem within Njombe-Penja population since the very first discoveries made in the sixties. Inadequate knowledge on both urinal and intestinal prevalences as well as socio-demographic influences of this infection in the whole area are some of the crucial factors for making faded epidemiological control of the disease. Between September 2014 and May 2015, according to a cross sectional study, 369 participants (172 males and 197 females) were randomly sampled where feces and urine samples were collected. Therefore they were respectively analyzed using the Kato-Katz and centrifugation techniques. Two species of schistosomes <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i> (19.8%) and <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> (0.3%) with an overall prevalence of 20.1% were recorded. On the other hand, persons aged from 23 years (5.7%; P ≥ 0.05) and females (10.3%; P ≥ 0.05) were more infected. Furthermore, students (14.7%; P ≥ 0.05) and persons with primary school level of education were more infected as quarters crossed by streams such as Mbouale (5.4%; P ≥0.05) and Mouantaba (4.3%; P ≥ 0.05). However, mean parasitic load of intestinal schistosomiasis was 39.8 eggs/g of feces and 01egg/ 10ml of urine for urinary schistosomiasis. This study reveals that, infection prevalence of schistosomiasis as well as parasitic load within Njombe-communities remain relatively high. While in socio-demographic influences, subjects with 23 and above, females, primary level of education, Mbouale and Mouantaba quarters had highest prevalence. Therefore, there is a huge need for integrated control program by treating the whole population.