Prevalence and Intensity of Urinary Schistosomiasis among the Primary School Children of Some Selected Villages of Shinkafi Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence and intensity of Urinary Schistosomiasis among Primary School children in selected villages of Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nigeria. Study Design: The study was designed to target a total of 400 primary school pupils from four (4) selected villages of the ten (10) districts of Shinkafi Local Government. Place and Duration of Study: Badarawa, kware, Jengeru, and Kurya primary schools of Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara State, from August 2017 to March 2018. Methodology: Four hundred (400) urine samples were collected from Primary Schools of Badarawa, Kware, Kurya and Jangeru villages using clean sample bottles covered with screw cup, the samples were examined visually and microscopically after filtration. All results obtained were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: One hundred and seventy three (173) pupils were positive for Schistosoma haematobium given a prevalence of 43.3% with a mean egg intensity of 11.45 egg/10 ml of urine. A significantly higher infection rate of 76.0% with a higher intensity of 16.81 egg/10 ml of urine was recorded among pupils with blood-brown urine colour. Pupils from Badarawa primary schools accounted for the highest prevalence (73.0%) with also higher intensity of (26.94 egg/10 ml of urine) with significant association for the prevalence and significant difference for the mean egg intensity. Prevalence and intensity were observed to be not significant based on gender, age groups and parents occupations in the study areas. Conclusion: Prevalence and intensity were significantly high based on urine colour and primary schools. Mass chemotherapy and awareness among the pupils and people in the study areas should be considered for future prevention measures.