Prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis among Primary School Children in Kwalkwalawa Area, Sokoto State, North-Western Nigeria

Aims: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school children in Kwalkwalawa Area of Sokoto, State, Nigeria.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted among school-aged children in, Wamakko Local Government, Sokoto state, between March to June, 2016.

Methodology: A total of 200 participants were enrolled in the study. Ten (10 ml) of urine samples were collected from each participant into universal containers. Samples were examined macroscopically for Haematuria. Samples were preserved with 10% formal saline and then transported to the laboratory for analysis. Samples were filtered using Vacuum pump filtration machine and Whatman No.1 filter paper and were then examined under the microscope to determine the presence of ova of Schistosoma haematobium.

Results: Out of 200 urine samples 128(33.5%) had infection with statistically significant difference (p<0.005) in infection rates among males (35.3%) and female (32.8%). Children between ages 11-14 years had a higher prevalence of 33.7% (p<0.001) compared with children between the ages 5-10 years (33.3%).

Conclusion: Prevention and control of Schistosomiasis is based on disease surveillance, health education, mass chemotherapeutic treatment of population at risk using praziquantel to reduce morbidity.