Prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis among Primary School Pupils

Abstract

Objectives: Schistosomiasis is a chronic, progressive and granulomatous disease which is not immediately fatal but constitutes enormous medical and public health implications. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, intensity, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school pupils (aged 4-16 years) in Owena town, Ondo State, Nigeria. Methods: Urine specimens were collected and examined, using a 325 Wire Mesh filter and microscopy. The conclusive diagnosis was based on the presence of the characteristic eggs of Schistosoma haematobium, while the intensity of infection was described as the number of eggs per 10 ml of urine (eggs/10ml). 464 school children, comprising 268 (57.8%) boys and 196 (42.2%) girls, were examined. Results: Altogether, 175 (37.7%) of the pupils examined had the characteristic egg of S. haematobium in their urine. Boys, (42.3%), were significantly more infected than girls, (31.6%) (p<0.05). The highest prevalence of infection (47.2%) was seen among pupils in the age range of 8-10years while the lowest (28.0%) occurred among 11-13years. Boys had significantly higher mean (SD) egg-count 428 (5.8) eggs/10 ml/SD and prevalence of macro-hematuria (70.2%) than girls 373.0 (3.1) eggs/10ml/SD and 29.8% respectively] (p <0.05). The relationship between water-contact activities and prevalence of infection was statistically significant (x2 = 24.17, p<0.05). Conclusion: This study identified protracted water-contact activities, ignorance, and lack of safe water supply as the major risk factors promoting endemicity of S. haematobium in Owena town. It is therefore imperative that interventions and control measures, such as health education, safe water supply, and chemotherapy are implemented. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 11(2):95-104.