Prevalence, Intensity, and Factors Associated with Urogenital Schistosomiasis among Women of Reproductive Age in Mbogwe District Council, Geita Region, Tanzania

Abstract

Background. Urogenital schistosomiasis remains a public health problem in Tanzania. Control programs mostly target school-going children ignoring other vulnerable groups like women of child bearing age. Previous evidence has shown that women of reproductive age suffer greatest morbidities in endemic areas. This study sought to determine the prevalence, intensity, and factors associated with urogenital schistosomiasis among women of reproductive age in the Mbogwe District. Methods. A population-based analytical cross-section study was conducted in the Mbogwe District. A semistructured questionnaire was administered. Urine samples of 20-30 mils collected between 10.00 am to 02.00 pm and examined for Schistosoma eggs and infection intensity microscopically. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Results. A total of 426 women of reproductive age, with median age of 26, and interquartile range of 11years were recruited and assessed. The prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was 4.5% and mean egg intensity of 19.5eggs/10mil of urine. After adjusting for confounders, lower level of education was associated with an increased risk of urogenital schistosomiasis infections (AOR 8.355, 95% CI 3.055-23.001). Conclusion. Urogenital schistosomiasis among women of reproductive age in the Mbogwe District is a problem. Education is the factor associated with the disease; the neglected tropical disease control program should develop strategies that should include provision of health education and should involve women of reproductive age as they act as infection reservoir. More studies are recommended to explore the possibility of reproductive complications among infected women in endemic areas.

Schistosome infection among pregnant women in the rural highlands of Madagascar: A cross-sectional study calling for public health interventions in vulnerable populations

“…This aligns with the finding that women in the age group 31-47 (Fig 2 ) have a positive association with the infection. Similar findings have been described in the adult population of Madagascar [22], so as in other endemic countries [26][27][28][29], indicating that exposure to the parasite in adult life can have a critical role in the acquisition of the infection. Additionally, only the 11.4% reported to have received PZQ treatment in the past.…”

Urogenital schistosomiasis among adult male population in an endemic area of southern Tanzania: a descriptive cross-sectional study

“… 17 The prevalence is also higher compared to another study conducted among women of reproductive age in Mbogwe district which is also endemic area, where they reported a prevalence of 4.5%. 29 The recorded high prevalence of UGS in this study group is due to the endemicity of the study area, ecological factors such as the presence of suitable snail hosts and warmer temperature and humidity and water contact activities as the study population were young and middle-aged men who spent most of their lives getting into repeated contact with water bodies. It can also be due to the absence of preventive chemotherapy programme targeting this group.…”

Molecular diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis in pre-school children, school-aged children and women of reproductive age at community level in central Senegal

“…Literature data have shown that the burden of schistosomiasis in PSC and women of reproductive age in Africa varies from countries and also from a region to another within the same country. In Burkina, a west African country, the highest prevalence seen in women was 21.3% even if young female were included [22] why in in Tanzania, only 4.5% of prevalence for the women was reported [23]. Similar variation of the prevalence in the PSC are also observed within the continent [24][25][26].…”