Corresponding Author: Biyaya Beatrice Nwankwo¹, Adebowale Ernest Onifade²

1 Department of Community Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja

Email: biyayanwankwo@yahoo.com

Phone: +234-8023805229

2 University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada

Abstract

Schistosomiasis or bilharziasis was named after Theodore Bilharz a German surgeon who worked in Cairo. He was the first person to identify the aetiological agent Schistosoma haematobium in 1851¹.Urinary schistosomiasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects urinary bladder caused by the schistosomes (eggs) laid by the helminth Schistosoma haematobium.²

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school children in Angwan-dodo community.

A multistage sampling method was used.Using a sterile universal bottle, urine samples were obtained from the subjects and transported immediately to the laboratory for analysis.

A total number of 336 samples were examined for the presence of the ova of Schistosoma among children within the ages of 6-17years in Angwan Dodo.Mean egg intensity was 30.0 ± 17.2 standard deviation(SD) with highest intensity being 59 eggs/10ml and the lowest 8 ova/10ml. The age group 12-14 years had the highest prevalence rate(19.6%) and highest mean ova intensity (33.9 ova/10ml urine) while the age group 6-8 years had the lowest rate. Overall, light intensity was (7.4%) while heavy intensity was (2.7%). Among those infected, light intensity (73.5%) was significantly higher than heavy intensity (26.5%). There was statistical significance in the prevalence (P = 0.002) in relation to age group however, no significance in mean intensity (P > 0.05 among the age groups.

Higher prevalence of infection was seen in the public school (15.6%) children compared to private schools with statistical significance (P = 0.003) but there was no statistical significance in the mean intensity between them (P > 0.05). Boys had the higher prevalence (15.9%) than girls (4.2%) respectively with statistical significance between them in prevalence (P = 0.002).