Environmental factors influencing Prevention and Control of Schistosomiasis Infection in Mwea, Kirinyaga County Kenya: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Kenya. Environmental factors are critical in creating a medium for growth and spread of schistosomiasis vectors. The study investigated the environmental factors influencing prevention and control of schistosomiasis infection in Mwea West Sub County, Kirinyaga County-Kenya. Methods: A multi stage sampling was used to identify four hundred and sixty-five (465) household. Analytical descriptive cross-sectional design that utilised quantitative data collection method was used. Data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and analysed using Chi square tests or Fisher’s exact tests where applicable. Results: Study results indicated a significant association p<.001 between household level of education, members being affected by floods during the rainy season and schistosomiasis infection. The result further indicates level of significance (p<0.047) in the association between sources of water in a household and schistosomiasis infection. No level of significance was posted between having a temporary water body in the area p (=.072) and schistosomiasis infection. In addition, there was no significant association between proximity to the nearest water source, p=.074 and proximity to the nearest health facility p=0.356 with schistosomiasis infection. Conclusions: The study recommends carefully designing safe water sources in order to match the goal of effectively controlling and reversing the trends of schistosomiasis infections. The community should be made aware of the risk factors of schistosomiasis including water utilised in the household’s alongside raising health seeking behaviours for diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis as a way of reducing the spread of infection.

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“…These water sources may be used for swimming, bathing, gardening, fishing, washing, etc ( Mutsaka-Makuvaza et al., 2019 ; Mutsaka-Makuvaza et al., 2019 ). Although such unprotected water sources can lead to schistosomiasis infection ( Nyati-Jokomo & Chimbari, 2017 ), their distance from residential areas might not the most significant factor ( Mwai et al., 2021 ).…”

Early transcriptomic host response signatures in the serum of dengue patients provides insights into clinical pathogenesis and disease severity

“…Moreover, TNFSF10 is also associated with functional maturation of lymphocytes and homeostasis 35 . Hence, Lymphocyte count reduction in patients suffering from high viral reads can be a prognostic factor for downstream severity since lymphocytes actively participate in warding off pathogens essentially through the adaptive immune system 36 – 38 . Furthermore, the high viral read group had an increase in neutrophils, indicating the activation of inflammatory responses in the host, as mentioned above.…”