A Retrospective prevalence Study of Urinary Schistosomiasis in Nelson Mandela Bay Health District from 2014 to 2018

Abstract

In South Africa (SA) more than 25.7 million people are at risk of infection and over four million people are expected to be infected with the  disease. Using secondary data, the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was determined retrospectively in KwaNobuhle between  2014 and 2018. Data were obtained from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) of Nelson Mandela Bay Health District (NMBHD).  The findings revealed that there was no significant difference between prevalence and year (p=0.092). The prevalence of urinary  schistosomiasis in 2014 was 14 (13%), which increased to 18 (17%), 24 (22%), and 31 (29%) in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively; however,  it declined to 20 (19%) in 2018. It was further observed that there was a significant (p=<0.0005, V= 0.33 medium) difference found in the  prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis infection among males and females from KwaNobuhle. Urinary schistosomiasis infection was higher among males 99 (93%) than females 6 (6%). Furthermore, the highest rate of disease infection was found in individuals between  the ages of 10 and 19 years (p<0.0005, V=0.43 medium). There was no significant difference (p=0.156) in the prevalence of urinary  schistosomiasis relative to the season over the five years. The results revealed that the rate of urinary schistosomiasis infections within  the study area, although not statistically significant, showed an increase from 2014 to 2017 but declined in 2018. It was further found that  males had a higher percentage of infections than females, and the highest rate of infections was found in individuals between the ages of  10 and 19 years. Therefore, effective prevention, control, and intervention programs are urgently needed to eliminate schistosomiasis  from the study area and avoid possible resurgence.