Risk Factors Associated with Urinary Schistosomiasis Among School-Age Children in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis is hyperendemic in many countries in Africa including Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the risk factors and prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among school-age children in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 427 school children aged 5-19 years were studied. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain risk factors and socio-demographic characteristics from the subjects. Freshly voided terminal urine samples were collected from the children, and 5ml of blood was also withdrawn for haematological analysis. The freshly voided terminal urine samples were analyzed for Schistosoma haematobium ova using microscopy.  Haemogblobin concentration was determined the Sysmex KX-21 haematology analyzer (Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan). The blood group and haemoglobin electrophoresis were done using the conventional manual method.  The result showed that 12 (2.81%) of the children were infected with Schistosoma haematobium. Urinary schistosomiasis did not differ significantly by gender (p=0.3087) and age (p=0.0734). Farming as parents’ occupation, presence of stream in the community and presence of stream close to school where risk factors for acquiring urinary schistosomiasis. There was significant association of urinary schistosomiasis and clinical manifestation of blood in urine (OR= 16.319, 95% CI=4.899.54.364, p<0.0001) and difficulty in urination (OR=54.515, 95% CI= 6.919, 429.50, p< 0.0001) among the subjects. Urinary schistosomiasis was significant associated with anaemia (p=0.0200) in the infected pupils.  Urinary schistosomiasis was not significantly associated with ABO blood group (p= 0.2913) and Rhesus D blood group (p=0.3087) of the children. All infected children were of AA haemoglobin electrophoretic pattern. The current treatment/control programme of the Ondo State Government should be intensified with emphasis geared towards creating awareness among people who are at a high for urinary schistosomiasis.