Prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection among school aged children in Ohaukwu local government area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Sunday O. Onwe; Ogonna C. Ani; Michael O. Elom; Egwu Eze; Hyacinth E. Okwe; John U. Ede

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20253669

Authors

Sunday O. Onwe Microbiology/Parasitology Unit, Medical Laboratory Service Department, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Ogonna C. Ani Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Michael O. Elom Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Egwu Eze Microbiology/Parasitology Unit, Medical Laboratory Service Department, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Hyacinth E. Okwe State Director Public Health and Disease Control. Ministry of Health Abakaliki Ebonyi State Nigeria
John U. Ede Department of Biology/Biotechnology, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20253669

Keywords:

Praziquantel, Prevalence, Schistosomiasis

Abstract

Background: Urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium, remains a significant health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa particularly Nigeria. The study investigated the prevalence of the infection among school-age children in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 570 pupils (308 males, 262 females) from 10 primary schools were examined using microscopy technique. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to collect demographic information, asses the level of knowledge and risk factors of schistosomiasis among the pupils.

Results: The overall prevalence was 15.1% (86/570), with males more infected (17.9%) than females (11.8%). The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Children in the age 11-15 had the highest infection rate 20.5% (62/302) than other age groups. Chi-square test showed that the differences in prevalence among the age groups were statistically significant (p=0.001). Among the component schools, infection was highest in State Primary School Ekwashi Ngbo 36.7% (18/49). The overall mean intensity was 11.35 eggs/10 ml of urine with females having a higher mean intensity (13.26 egg/10 ml of urine) than males (10.27 eggs/10 ml of urine). Most pupils (89.5%) had light infection. Pupils of age group 6-10 years mean egg intensity (17.72 eggs/10 ml of urine) was highest. Mean intensity of S. haematobium infection was found to decrease with advancement in age. Knowledge of the infection was poor, with 95.79% of participants having no knowledge.

Conclusions: Extensive campaign on the awareness of the disease and scale-up of mass drug administration of praziquantel to help in the control of the disease is highly recommended.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Weerakoon KGAD, Gobert GN, Cai P, McManus DP. Advances in the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015;28:939-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00137-14

Roberts LS, Schmidt GD, Janovy J. Foundation of Parasitology. 8th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York; 2010:701.

Anosike JC, Njoku AJ, Nwoke BE, Ajero CM, Osagiede UR, Okoro OU, et al. Epidemiology of urinary schistosomiasis in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Int J Environ Health Hum Develop. 2002;3(1):59-63.

Ajibola O, Gulumbe BH, Eze AA, Obishakui E. Tools for detection of schistosomiasis in resource limited settings. Med Sci. 2018;6(2):39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci6020039

Onwe SO, Ani OC, Uhuo CA, Onwe CS, Odikamnoro OO. Studies of urinary schistosomiasis amongst school age children in Ebonyi North senatorial district of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Int J Trop Dis Health. 2016;18(1):1-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/IJTDH/2016/13138

Umoh NO, Nwamini CF, Inyang NJ, Umo AN, Usanga VU, Nworie A, et al. Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis amongst primary school children in Ikwo and Ohaukwu Communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Afr J Lab Med. 2020;9(1):1-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.812

Awopeju ATO, Nnokam BA, Kinako SE. Prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infections and associated risk factors in school aged children in southern Nigeria. J Med Dent Sci Res. 2023;10(4):75-80.

National population Commission. Ebonyi (State, Nigeria). 2022. Available from: https://citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/NGA011__ebonyi/. Accessed on 20 August 2024.

Cheesbrough M. District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries Part I. Cambridge University Press: New York; 2005:454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511581304

World Health Organization (2023). Schistosomiasis Fact Sheet. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schistosomiasis. Accessed on 20 August 2024.

Atalabi TE, Lawal U, Ipinlaye SJ. Prevalence and intensity of genito-urinary schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among junior high school students in two local government areas around Zobe Dam in Katsina State, Nigeria. Parasites Vectors. 2016;9(1):388. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1672-5

Gamde SM, Garba A, Tongvwam P, Gamde SD, Agom DD, Igbinosa I. Prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school children in Silame, Sokoto, Nigeria. Microbes Infect Dis. 2023;4(2):695-703.

Anorue CO, Onyali IO, Iwueze OM. Epidemiological studies on urinogenital schistosomiasis in Ebonyi State. Med Surg Urol. 2021;10:245.

Okpete EC, Ani OC. Status of urinary schistosomiasis among resident of Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Zoologist. 2024;24:23-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/tzool.v24i1.5

Agumah NB, Opara JK, Odoemena OF, Mbamalu CJ, Oru CM, Chukwu M. Incidence of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in a community in Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria. Niger J Parasitol. 2019;40(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/njpar.v40i2.17

Uthman TO, Agbolade OM, Okeowo MT. Urinary schistosomiasis among school-age children in selected local government areas in Ogun State, Nigeria. Basrah J Sci. 2024;42(1):81-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29072/basjs.20240106

Sam-Wobo SO, Ajayi TO, Ijaduola T, Ekpo U, Adeleke M, Surakat O, Mafiana C. Status of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school children in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Int J Med. 2013;5:106-9.

Opara KN, Wilson EU, Yaro CA, Alkazmi L, Udoidung NI, Chikezie FM, et al. Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Coinfection of Urogenital Schistosomiasis and Soil‐Transmitted Helminthiasis among Primary School Children in Biase, Southern Nigeria. J Parasitol Res. 2021;2021(1):6618394. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6618394

Bala AY, Shafa’atu S, Bandiya HM, Aliyu M, Suleiman J. Prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis among the primary school children of some selected villages of Shinkafi Local Government Area in Zamfara State Nigeria. South Asian J Parasitol. 2020;4(4):28-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ajriz/2020/v3i430102

Amuta EU, Houmsou RS. Prevalence, intensity of infection and risk factors of urinary schistosomiasis in pre-school and school aged children in Guma Local Government Area, Nigeria. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014;7(1):34-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1995-7645(13)60188-1