Childhood Activities and Schistosomiasis Infection in the Kassena-Nankana District of Northern Ghana

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a common cause of morbidity especially among rural children in less developed countries. The extent and distribution of schistosomiasis infection among school-age children was assessed and the association between some childhood activities and prevalence of infection was determined in northern Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted during which stool and urine samples were collected from children 6-15 years. Samples were analysed using the Kato-Katz technique and the 10 ml urine filtration methods respectively. Data on water contact activities were also collected. The level of infection was compared in relation to location and water contact activities. A total of 1,764 children participated in the study. Prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 18.9%. The highest level of infection (33.1%) was found among children resident in the southern part of the district, the lowest among those in the eastern (3.6%) and northern (3.8%) parts. S. mansoni infection was 10.9%. The highest level of S. mansoni infection (54.2%) was found among children resident in the central part of the district. The overall prevalence of infection (S. haematobium+S. mansoni) was moderate (27.1%). More males (32.5%) than females (20.2%) were infected (χ 2 =32.8, P<0.0001). Children aged 9-12 years had the highest prevalence of infection (31.8%; 95% CI: 28.4-35.5) with the lowest among those aged 6-8 years (23.9%; 95% CI: 20.2-28.0). Swimming in the canals (χ 2 =404.4, P<0.0001) and working on tomato farms (χ 2 =37.7, P<0.0001) were risk factors for infection. Herding cattle appeared to have protected the children from infection (χ 2 =34.8, P=0.0001). Schistosomiasis is prevalent throughout the district with children resident in the central and southern parts of the district being more at risk of infection. There is the need to put in place an integrated and effective schistosomiasis control programme.

Prevalence ofSchistosoma mansoniInfection in Four Health Areas of Kisantu Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…These findings are similar to those found by several authors, especially in Mali [20], in Kenya [25], in Ethiopia [26], and in Democratic Republic of the Congo [21]. However, the results differ from several studies where male predominance was reported in Yemen [24], in Ethiopia [27], and in Ghana [28]. …”

“…The findings showed that schistosomiasis was significantly associated with practices of swimming/bathing in open water ( p < 0.001); these results are similar to those found in Ghana [28], Nigeria [18], and Ethiopia [29]. …”

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Urinary Schistosomiasis in the Ikata-Likoko Area of Southwest Cameroon

“…Although pupils and students had the highest prevalence (36.7%) and mean egg load (40 eggs/10 mL), there was however no significant difference in prevalence (V = 0.076, P = .56) and egg load (H=4.407, P=.319) between participants of different occupations. It is possible that the necessity for water used to prepare for school and household chores may cause this group of individuals to be in greater contact with water on a daily basis [20]. This group of children is known to spend time on recreational activities such as swimming which exposes them to infection by cercariae [1].…”

The current epidemiological status of urogenital schistosomiasis among primary school pupils in Katsina State, Nigeria: An imperative for a scale up of water and sanitation initiative and mass administration of medicines with Praziquantel

“…Human schistosomiasis, though less fatal, but debilitating and chronic in nature, is among a set of 17 neglected tropical infectious diseases of poverty that is currently posing a threat to the wellbeing of 2 billion people in the world [ 1 ]. The aetiological agent of urogenital schistosomiasis is the infective stage (cercaria) of Schistosoma haematobium , a digenetic trematode plathyhelminth whose intermediate hosts are some species of gastropod snails in the genus Bulinus [ 2 , 3 ].…”