Abstract
BackgroundUrinary schistosomiasis is a serious public health challenge in some communities of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria, partly resulting from a lack of adequate epidemiological data for the institution of effective control strategies.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of urinary schistosomiasis in rural communities of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria.MethodsA total of 300 students, comprising 185 boys and 115 girls, were randomly selected for the study between July and December 2016. A questionnaire was administered to all participants to determine the risk factors for the disease in the area. Urine specimens collected from the participants were processed by sedimentation and examined microscopically for the eggs of Schistosoma haematobium.ResultsThe overall prevalence rate for urinary schistosomiasis was 8.0%. Students aged 6–10 years had the highest prevalence of infection (10.3%). The prevalence was significantly higher amongst male students (10.3%; p = 0.038) compared with female students (4.4%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between schistosomiasis infection and freshwater contact activities (p = 0.007; odds ratio = 1.89; 95% confidence interval: 4.33–16.17). Contact with stream, pond, river and well water were associated with infection rates of 25%, 14%, 5.3%, and 4.4%, respectively.ConclusionA relatively low prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was found in the area. Participants’ socio-economic status and dependence on contaminated water sources were core modifiable risk factors. Health education and development of potable water infrastructure, amongst other interventions, would likely reduce the burden and transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in this locality.
Highlights
Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of the tropics and sub-tropics caused by infection of humans with the trematode known as Schistosoma haematobium
Nigeria has the highest prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis, with about 29 million cases and about 101 million people at risk of infection in 2010.5,6,7 The high prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria has been ascribed mainly to the wide distribution of Bulinus spp., the snail host of S. haematobium, and the indiscriminate passage of urine harbouring S. haematobium eggs by infected individuals into water lodging the snail host.[8,9]
Urinary schistosomiasis is reported to be endemic in virtually all rural regions of Nigeria, because of a widespread occurrence of ecological and socio-economic factors associated with the disease.[8,9,22,23]
Summary
Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of the tropics and sub-tropics caused by infection of humans with the trematode (parasitic flatworm) known as Schistosoma haematobium. Urinary schistosomiasis is a serious public health challenge in some communities of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria, partly resulting from a lack of adequate epidemiological data for the institution of effective control strategies
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