PATTERN OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Schistosomiasis, also referred to as bilharziasis,  poses a significant global public health threat, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The predominant species contributing to schistosomiasis include Schistosoma haematobium, which is widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa causing urinary schistosomiasis. Additionally, Schistosoma mansoni, S. intercalatum, S. japonicum, and S. mekongi are accountable for intestinal schistosomiasis. The elevated occurrence of urinary schistosomiasis  is attributed to various factors, including inadequate sanitation, poverty, lack of awareness, restricted access to health facilities, and limited availability of social amenities. Therefore,  study examined the pattern of urinary schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among school-aged children in Oyo State, Nigeria.

The study is a Retrospective study that deployed the use of secondary data. The secondary data collected was based on puporsive sampling selection of all LGAs to ensure a representative and diverse sample from the population of school-aged children in Oyo State. This design is chosen to comprehensively explore the pattern of urinary schistosomiasis and identify associated risk factors among school-aged children in Local Government Areas (LGA) of Oyo State, Nigeria, covering the period from 2020 to 2023. data was collected on Oyo state schistosomiasis disaggregation data (2020-2022) for all LGA or endemic LGA (LCDA) affected. And also randomly collated data of year 2020- 2022 from PHCs record for specific data on socio-demographic characteristics, and number of cases examined.  

 The results identified Local government area provided insight to the disease distribution and intensity by age group and gender for SAC in the surveyed area. There are 33 LGAs in Oyo state but about 26 LGAs had confirmed cases of Schistosomiasis. Some wards within the same LGA that have wards with low endemicity are highly endemic. The findings on schistosomiasis revealed that the overall prevalence was within the low-risk range (74%) and moderate risk range (25.2%). Therefore, it can be inferred that gender, age, education level, occupation status were independent factors for pattern of urinary schistosomiasis among school-aged children (SAC). The prominent causes for increasing endemicity is contamination of fresh water through the continuous visit of herds of cattle in rural area.

In conclusion, It was inferred that gender, age, education level, occupation status were independent factors for pattern of urinary schistosomiasis among SAC. The prominent causes for increasing endemicity is contamination of fresh water through the continuous visit of herds of cattle in rural area. It was recommended that  Oyo state ministry of health should take actions on Improving and  Maximising community participation through multi-sectoral strategy, advocacy, and mobilisation.