Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosoma heamatobium Infection among Children in Tungar Amma Kware Local Government Area, Sokoto State

Abstract

Schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent parasitic worm infections and has significant economic and public health consequences. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Schistosoma heamatobium infections among children in Tungar Amma Village of Kware local government Area of Sokoto, State, Nigeria. A total of 100 samples were collected and processed according to standard parasitological techniques. Out of 100 urine samples 23(23%) had infection with statistically significant difference in infection rates among males (26.7%) and female (17.5%). Children between ages 12 - 14 years had a higher prevalence of 26.7% compared with children between the ages 6 - 8 years (13.3%). Based on associated risk factors, those whose father's occupation is farming were more exposed to the infection with a prevalence of (24.6%) followed by those that is fishing with (17.2%) The lower prevalence reported by the present study could be attributed to the integrated and cost-effective approaches implemented by the Federal Ministry of Health to eliminate Schistosomiasis. Effective measures and health education are required in the study area so as to prevent the further spread of the disease.