Intensity of Urinary Schistosomiasis Associated with Gender-Aged Group of Primary Schools Children in Sokoto South and Kware Area, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

Study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary Schistosomiasis among school children in three selected primary schools around Sokoto Metropolis,Nigeria. A total of three hundred and seventy-five (375) samples of each urine and stool were examined for the eggs of S. haematobium and S. mansoni using standard filtration technique. The prevalence and parasite load of S. haematobium were 60.80% and 43.85/10ml of urine. The prevalence varied among schools, age of children, gender and water contact. The highest prevalence of 75.20%was recorded in Basansan Model Primary School. Age group 9 – 12years had the highest (71.42%) prevalence of infection. Males with the prevalence of 79.57% were more infected than females with prevalence of 29.28%. Based on occupation and water contact, the result showed thatchildren of farmers had the highest prevalence of 71.50% and 84.87%, children whose source of drinking water is from Dam, had the highest prevalence of 75.24%. The study area is endemic for urinary schistosomiasiswith high significant variation (P < 0.01) between the prevalence of the infections in almost all the primary schools. Health Education campaign, treatment of infected individuals, provision of safe water for domestic uses and control of snails’ vector should be encouraged.