Prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis among primary school pupils in Kirfi L.G.A Bauchi State

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world and is caused by the Schistosoma genus of the fluke. The form of Schistosomiasis affecting the urinary tract is caused by Schistosoma haematobium.
Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis among primary school pupils at Kirfi Local Government Area.
Methodology: Two hundred mid-stream urine samples were collected from two hundred subjects from four randomly selected primary schools.
Result :The overall prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 27.5% (55/200) and was significantly higher among subjects enrolled for Baba primary school and Badara central primary school (ᵡ²= 26.76, df = 3, p = 0.000066). There was no significant difference in prevalence among age groups (ᵡ² = 1.33, df = 2, p = 0.51), both sexes studied (ᵡ² = 2.20, df = 1, p = 0.138) and class of the subjects (ᵡ² = 1.99, df = 5, p = 0.85). Subject that sourced their bathing water from river/stream had highest prevalence of 73.3% (11/15) (ᵡ2=25.6, df = 3, p = 0.000011).
Conclusion: Conclusively prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis among primary school pupils at Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State is relatively high and requires attention. Thus, mass de-worming of pupils and de-contamination of the water are recommended.