Factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis in two peri-urban communities in south–western Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, there is only very limited epidemiological information on which the control of human urinary schistosomiasis could be based. In a cross-sectional study, therefore, the prevalences and intensities of, and risk factors for, human infection with Schistosoma haematobium infection were explored in two endemic peri-urban villages in the south-western state of Osun. The villagers' knowledge about the infection and demographic, socio-economic and environmental variables were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Of the 1023 individuals who were investigated, 634 (62.0%) were found infected, with a mean (S.D.) overall intensity of 114.2 (327.7) eggs/10 ml urine. The subjects aged 10-14 years had both the highest prevalence (83.6%) and the highest mean (S.D.) intensity of infection [196.67 (411.7) eggs/10 ml urine]. Most (70.0%) of the subjects appeared to have no knowledge of the transmission of S. haematobium. The results of multivariate regression analysis indicated that infection and moderate-heavy infection (i.e. >50 eggs/10 ml urine) were both associated with: a low family income, of <U.S.$500/month [with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of 3.72 and 3.35, respectively], the number of children aged 10-15 years living in the household (with aOR of 1.60 and 1.99, respectively), not living with biological parents (with aOR of 1.93 and 5.21, respectively), and living close to (i.e. within a 30-min walk of) the local river (with aOR of 1.38 and 1.61, respectively). Literacy of the family head was, however, a protective factor (with corresponding aOR of 0.28 and 0.30, respectively). Human urinary schistosomiasis appears to be highly endemic in peri-urban/rural Nigeria and closely associated with poverty. To reduce the transmission of S. haematobium in endemic communities, health education that is not only of high quality but also culturally sensitive is needed.

Some epidemiological and serological studies on schistosomiasis in Najran area, Saudi Arabia

“…The fi ndings of the current study also showed that participants aged 20 -40 years were signifi cantly more prone to be infected than younger and older ones. This result was in agreement with previous reports worldwide ( Raja'a et al, 2000;Gryseels et al, 2006;Mafuyai et al, 2006;Matthys et al, 2007;Ugbomoiko et al, 2010;Deribe et al, 2011). This could be explained by the excessive mobility of people at this age and they may become more exposed to infected water while swimming/playing or fetching water for domestic purposes or helping in agriculture activities.…”

“…However, previous studies among rural communities in some neighboring countries like Yemen found no association between the prevalence of schistosomiasis and the fathers' or participants' educational status (Raja'a et al, 2000;Nagi, 2005). On the contrary, in Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria, the higher education level of the head of family was identifi ed as a protective factor against schistosomiasis (Matthys et al, 2007;Ugbomoiko et al, 2010). With respect to nationality, the present fi gures showed that the rate of human schistosomiasis was higher among non-Saudi residents (nationals of Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India) compared to Saudi people.…”

Schistosomiasis transmission; socio-demographic, knowledge and practices as transmission risk factors in pregnant women

“…A poor level of education appears to be a risk factor for urogenital schistosomiasis in Nigeria in present study, intestinal schistosomiasis in Brazil (Bethony et al 2001) and many other parasitic diseases throughout the developing world (Montresor et al 2001;Asaolu and Ofoezie 2003;Stothard et al 2006;Aagaard-Hansen et al 2009). This association is probably multi-faceted, education affecting attitudes and behavior in different ways in different settings (Ugbomoiko et al 2010). In Yewa North LGA, individuals with low educational status are more likely to cross a stream or river barefoot and spend longer hours in water (exposing themselves to cercarial penetration) than their more educated counterparts, an observation similar to practices in Eko-ende and Ore in Osun State reported by Ugbomoiko et al (2010).…”

“…Previous studies in Nigeria and other parts of the world focused on transmission patterns in school based resources and in rare occasion the general population (Gazzinelli et al 1998;Oladejo and Ofoezie 2006;Ugbomoiko et al 2010). The 21.1 % prevalence of S. haematobium recorded showed that it is of a high public health importance in the group as the disease will not only impair the health of the mother but also of the growing fetus.…”

“…These groups in turn could serve as source of disease transmission to the treated population in resource poor communities thus rendering the area-wide infection prevalence and intensity to pre-control levels. Unlike other studies in Nigeria (Oladejo and Ofoezie 2006;Ugbomoiko et al 2010) and other parts of the world (Gazzinelli et al 2006) which considered association between socio-demographic/cultural characteristics and transmission dynamics of schistosomiasis in school children population and the general populace of the endemic communities, the current study focuses on pregnant women population. This becomes necessary as the Ministry of Health of many endemic countries is yet to adopt praziquantel administration in this group.…”