Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in White Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan, the risk for schistosomiasis is widespread, especially in the major irrigation systems in the Gezira area between the Blue and White Nile Rivers and both Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium are endemic. A cross sectional descriptive study was done to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis. Randomly 385 children were selected (223 males, 162 females) from the total population of three basic mixed schools at Assalaya locality in White Nile State. Urine samples were exanimated after allowing it to sediment in a conical urinalysis glass. A drop from the sediment is taken and examined under the light microscope for the presence of S. hematobium ova and by a filtration method. The percentage of the infection was 154/385 (40%). The highest frequency of positive cases were found among the age group of 12 to 15 years 91/154 (59.1%) but no significant association between age distribution and positive results was found (p-value = 0.18). In this study no significant association between sex and urinary schistosomiasis was found (p-value = 0.64). About 253/385 (65.7%) of population know the mode of transmission of the schistosomiasis from infected water with snails transmit the infection. There was significant association between contact to canals and the infection (p-value < 0.05). There was no significant association between father and mother education and the infection (p-values = 0.08, 0.06 respectively), monthly income and the infection (p-value=0.31), the source of water supply and the disease (p-value = 0.43). While there was significant association between lack of latrines in houses and the infection (p-value < 0.05).

Keywords: Urinary schistosomiasis, White Nile State, Sudan, prevalence.

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