EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was investigated among primary school pupils in Ekiti State by questionnaire survey in 601 schools between 1997 and 1998. A total of 9,551 (24.4%) were positive by the survey. 3483 (22.4%) of the girls and 6,069 (25.7%) of the boys were infected. The prevalence of this infection between girls and boys shows a significant difference (x²₁₅ = 59.5; p<0.05). Ekiti South West local government had the highest prevalence of S. haematobium infection of 69.0% while Ikole local government had the lowest prevalence of infection of 2.0%. Out of 1,049 pupils with clinical and laboratory examination, 280 (50.9%) of the 550 boys and 184 (36.9%) of the 499 girls were infected. Chi-square analysis shows a significant difference of S. haematobium infection between the girls and boys (X² ₁₁ = 86.2; p<0.05). Chi square analysis also showed that questionnaire survey could be used to predict the laboratory epidemiological data (X² ₁= 3.84; p<0.05).


Key Words: Schistosomiasis, Epidemiology, Infection, Bulinus globosus


African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 20-29