Baseline epidemiological assessment of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in Okpoto District, Southeast Nigeria

This cross-sectional survey was set out to identify and describe urinary schistosomiasis and associated factors among school-aged children in a rural Okpoto District, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; given the relevance and scarce scientific information about the epidemiology of the infection in the area. Sedimentation and light microscopic methods were used to examine 180 urine samples of randomly selected school-aged children from three primary schools in the community for Schistosoma haematobium eggs. While relevant epidemiological data were collected using questionnaires, further laboratory investigations were conducted to estimate the amount of blood in the urine. The result of urine microscopy showed that 10 % of all the specimens examined were positive for S. haematobium, amongst which a prevalence of 16.7 % was recorded amongst males and 6.7 % among females. The prevalence of infection with S. haematobium was higher in the group 9-12 years (14.1 %) than in the 5-8 years age group (6.3 %); while Central School Lobasa had 6.6 %, Ukwuachi Primary School had 23.3 % and none detected among pupils from Ndieze Primary School. Results of the urine reagent strip showed 0 %, 20 % and 0 % positives in pupils from Central School Lobasa, Ukwuachi Primary School, and Ndieze Primary School, respectively. The outcome of this investigation confirmed that urine containing blood contains schistosome eggs. The related environmental, as well as host behavioural factors identified in this study, suggest that the overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in this area could be fast-increasing, with attendant morbidity and mortality implications. This effort, therefore, provides an appropriate basis for further investigation; urgent implementation and sustenance of relevant control interventions.