Risk Factors and Urogenital Schistomiasis Prevalence among Primary School Children in Makurdi, Nigeria

Abstract

Urogenital schistosomiasis in humans is an infection of public health importance caused by infection with Schistosoma heamatobium. The study investigated the risk factors and intensity of urogenital schistosomiasis among primary school pupils in Makurdi, Nigeria. Eight hundred (800) school pupils consisting of 200 per school, aged 5 – 20 years in Angwan Jukun, Angwan Reke, Agbo and Ijaha communities, respectively were enrolled for the study. Suitably designed questionnaire was used to document data on the demographics as well as relevant information of the participants. Urine samples were collected from consented participants between 10 am – 2 pm, into pre-labelled plastic sample bottles following aseptic techniques. The samples were subjected to standard parasitological techniques for determination and quantification of parasite in the zoology laboratory of Benue State University, Makurdi. Research data was subjected to chi square analysis to ascertain association of the research variables with schistosomiasis prevalence in the study area. The study filed an overall prevalence of 23.75% (190/800). Infection rates were significantly associated with age as age group 16-20 years had the highest prevalence (P<0.000). Males 25.42% (122/800) were slightly more infected than females 21.25% (68/800) (P>0.05). Water contact pattern of participants revealed a highly significant association with schistosomiasis prevalence (p<0.001)). Grazing activity 50% (1/2) displayed higher infection prevalence followed by > 1 activity 34.65% (79/228) while no infection was seen in snail hunters. The association between the presence and type of livestock sharing open water sources with the communities was statistically significant (P<0.05). Makurdi is endemic for urogenital schistosomiasis and related risk factors. The roles of other definitive hosts in ensuring continual disease transmission and possible zoonosis should be investigated