Human Water Contact Behaviour and Schistosoma haematobium Infection among Almajiri School Children in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis is caused by a parasitic flatworm (Schistosoma haematobium) commonly called blood fluke which infects humans and causes  public health problems. The study was conducted to determine the current status of human water contact behaviour and Schistosoma haematobium  infection among Almajiri school children in Kurfi local area of Katsina State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 367 randomly selected Almajiris  to assess the risk factors and to identify the relationship between human water contact and the infection of urinary schistosomiasis.  Parasitological analysis was also used to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection among the Almajiri. Out of 367 sampled tested 161 were  positive. The prevalence is significantly higher in Kofar Yamma Almajiri School with 51(47.66%) when compared to other schools and there is no  significant relationship between human water contact and the infection in the study area due to the absence of intermediate host snail found in the  study area.