Prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in settlements around the Goronyo Dam, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Water development projects and irrigation schemes are without doubt very important and sometimes necessary. However, they create distortions in flora and fauna resulting in an increase incidence and prevalence of Schistosomiasis.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis among school children around the Goronyo dam commissioned in November 2005.

Methodology: The study was basically a cross sectional assessment using a pre-tested interviewer administered standardized structured questionnaire to gather baseline information on the bio-data of the pupils. Urine samples were also collected from the pupils and examined for the presence of ova of schistosoma haematobium. A total of 400 pupils were proportionately recruited from schools through a multistage sampling technique and using the list of pupils as the sampling frame.

Results: Majority (55.3%) of respondents were 11-12 years old (modal class) with a mean (x) age of 11.5 + 2 years and males (89.8%). The prevalence of infection among schools near or around the dam/canals compared to those far away from the dam/canals was found to be between 45% - 52.5% and 7.7% - 17.7% respectively. This was found to be statistically significant (P<0.001, RR = 4.963 at 95% CI). The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in the study area was found to be 32.3% (129/400). The age group 13-14 has the highest age specific prevalence of 39.4% (39/99) and all were males. Out of the 129 infected school children, 94 (72.9%) and 34 (27.1%) have light and heavy infection respectively. The later were all males. This might not be unrelated to differences in exposure due to cultural factors among males and females.

Conclusion: Based on these findings, the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis is high largely as a result of weaknesses in planning (including pre-construction phase), lack of social amenities and no control measure currently in place. There is therefore the need for instituting control measures with involvement and proactive participation of the community.