SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM INFECTION AMONG CHILDREN OF ANAM COMMUNITY, SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Urogenital schistosomiasis is a major source of morbidity and mortality for developing countries in Africa including Nigeria. A cross sectional study on urogenital schistosomiasis was done at an island community of Anam, Anambra State Nigeria between April and May 2021. Each of the 200 students enrolled for the study was given a 20 ml universal bottle for terminal urine sample collection during break-time between 10 am -11 am. Collected samples were transported within a cooler containing ice packs to the laboratory where 10ml of each sample was centrifuged in a test tube at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes. When decanted, sediments were pipetted unto glass slides, covered with cover slips, and examined microscopically using ×40 objective lens. Schistosoma haematobium eggs were identified by their characteristic ovoid shapes with terminal spines. Prevalence of infection was calculated as while MS Excel Chart Wizard was used to prepare Bar Charts with standard error bars indicating significant differences. Chi-square was used to test homogeneity between gender and among age-groups studied with(p<0.05)considered statistically significant. There was an overall infection prevalence of 20.5%. Highest prevalence of 25.6 % was recorded among age group of 9 – 11 years while age-group of 18 – 20 years had least prevalence of 12.5% (p<0.05). Out of 92 males examined, 14 (15.2%) were positive while out of 108 females, 27 (25.0 %) were positive for S. haematobium eggs (p<0.05).Urogenital schistosomiasis is endemic at Anam. Thus, control efforts should be targeted on children and females in line with United Nations sustainable development goals.

Keywords

• haematobium eggs
• Schistosomiasis
• Anam
• haematuria