Carriage rate of Neisseria meningitides among pupils of islamic boarding schools (Tsangaya Almajirai) in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was a cross-sectional study that determined the carriage rate of Neisseria meningitides among pupils of Islamic boarding schools (Tsangaya Almajirai) in Kano, Nigeria. Nasal swabs were randomly collected from 150 children aged 5 years to 10 years and above from three selected Tsangaya Almajiri schools in Kano using cluster sampling. The collected samples were processed for the presence of N. meningitides using standard cultural and biochemical test and further identified using latex agglutination technique. Also, Blood profile of study subjects was carried out. A questionnaire was similarly administered to identify risk factors associated with carriage status. The results of the study revealed that 23 (15.3%) of the children were carriers of N. meningitides with 2%, 12% and 5% of the isolates belonging to serogroup A, B and C respectively, while 4% were identified as non-groupable. Risk factors such as age, population density, period of sample collection and preceding viral infection were associated with carriage although not significant (p>0.05).

Keywords: Neisseria meningitides, carriage, Islamic boarding schools, Kano.