Urinary schistosomiasis in communities around Kiri Lake, Shelleng Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria

J.S Birma,T Laurat,P.A Shadrach,P Vandi,G Chessed,A.B Yako,J.I Nganjiwa

doi:10.4314/jasem.v21i1.14

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in the different communities, the intensity of infection, prevalence among gender and age groups and to relate infection with parent’s occupation. A study on the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was conducted in four villages around Kiri Lake in Shelleng Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Two hundred and thirty two urine samples were collected from four primary school children randomly selected from within the four study communities. Overall, prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was 48% (111/232), with males recording 49% (69/142) and females 47% (42/90). The total mean egg count (MEC) was 8.3. There was no significant difference in prevalence between males and females (P˃0.05). Prevalence was higher among age groups, with the 13-15 year old age group having the highest 62.96% (17/27) and the 4-6 year old age group had the least 37% (19/52). There was no statiscally significant difference in prevalence among the different age groups (P>0.05). Infection was also high among children of fishermen 59.09% (13/22), followed by farmers’ children 56.25% (45/80) and the least prevalence was among children of teachers 20% (3/15). Old Banjiram had the highest infection of 91% (21/23), while Kwadadai had the least 36.8% (21/57) (P<0.05). Old Banjiram and children in the 10-12 years age group had the highest mean egg count of 10.6 and 9.4 respectively. The study reveals a high prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis. And therefore portable water source should be made functional in all communities surrounding the lake. While rehabilitation and repair of the existing water borehole system in the community should be effected as well as drilling new additional boreholes to serve their water needs. Commun JASEMity participatory health education on this neglected tropical disease in the area is needed on knowledge of the disease, the intermediate host and transmission pattern. Since school children harbour infection and are a source of infection of schistosomiasis in endemic communities, planning and provision for their treatment should be considered in control programmes. Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium , Prevalence, Kiri lake, Socio-economic, School children, Nigeria

Highlights

Schistosomiasis is one of the most widespread of all human parasitic diseases, ranked second after malaria in terms of socio-economic and public health importance in the tropics (WHO, 2016a)
The development of water resources is immensely beneficial to a developing country like Nigeria, which seeks to boost water supply and increase agricultural production to feed its growing population, evidence abounds to show that the planning, design and execution of such projects are often undertaken without considering their public health implications thereby spreading water related diseases such as schistosomiasis (Oladejo and Ofoezie, 2006; Akinwale, et al, 2010)
Out of the 232 primary school children examined for urinary schistosomiasis, 111 (47.8%) were infected

Summary

Introduction

Schistosomiasis is one of the most widespread of all human parasitic diseases, ranked second after malaria in terms of socio-economic and public health importance in the tropics (WHO, 2016a). There is high risk of people becoming infected as a result of low literacy level, poverty, sub-standard hygiene and inadequate public infrastructure (Mufe, et al, 2005) Another important factor that has adversely affected control efforts is lack of scientific information on the disease in many rural communities among the high risk group’s school-aged children. The development of water resources is immensely beneficial to a developing country like Nigeria, which seeks to boost water supply and increase agricultural production to feed its growing population, evidence abounds to show that the planning, design and execution of such projects are often undertaken without considering their public health implications thereby spreading water related diseases such as schistosomiasis (Oladejo and Ofoezie, 2006; Akinwale, et al, 2010). Results obtained will help in disease control and will allow for comparison with other studies on urinary schistosomiasis from different regions

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