Schistosomiasis transmission; socio-demographic, knowledge and practices as transmission risk factors in pregnant women

Abstract

Schistosoma transmission is influenced by the interplay between various factors ranging from parasite to host associated factors. While many studies have focused on mass chemotherapy to reduce transmission in other populations, no study has examined the impact of social factors that favour transmission in pregnant women in Nigeria. The study was conducted to assess the impact of knowledge, attitudes and sociodemographic factors on schistosomiasis burden in pregnant women of rural communities of Nigeria. A cross sectional community-based field study was conducted to assess the association between Schistosoma haematobium burden and the associated risk factors among pregnant women in rural endemic communities of Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to gather information on participants' socio-demographic data, knowledge on schistosomiasis and water contact activities. Of the 237 respondents examined microscopically for infection, 50 (21.1 %) were infected with overall mean infection intensity of 69.6 ± 165.2 eggs/ 10 mL urine. Multivariate logistic analysis showed occupation of the women to be associated with infection with the artisans having the highest risk (OR 3.34, CI 1.67-6.69, P = 0.022). Contact with water and water usage patterns are also associated with prevalence of disease with fetching (OR 2.04, CI 0.19-3.51, P = 0.003) and multipurpose water usage (OR 4.31,, P = 0.0002) being the most predisposing variables respectively. Awareness about water borne diseases showed no association with infection (P = 0.382) with typhoid (23.7 %) and fever (2.6 %) constituting the most and least common water borne diseases mentioned by the women. Health education and provision of good water supply should be integrated into the control strategies in order reduce transmission in endemic areas.

Maternal schistosomiasis: a growing concern in sub-Saharan Africa

“…The impact of education has also been emphasized in one of our studies among pregnant women in Nigeria. 7 Intensive education and training about transmission and morbidity associated with infection incorporated in antenatal programs will help as well. More epidemiological studies on maternal schistosomiasis across sub-Saharan Africa regions and development of predictive maps that will put into consideration all the other groups of population at risk will help in providing an accurate estimate of infection for effective management and control.…”

“…3 The dynamics of the socio-cultural and socio-demographic factors, such as age, sex, education, religion, and water use pattern, among others, have also been reported to be associated with schistosomiasis. [4][5][6][7] One of the major problems hampering effective management of schistosomiasis in endemic countries is the problem of reinfection. Targeted control on school children is often advocated and is usually the main operation in sub-Saharan Africa 8 due to limited resources.…”

Maternal urogenital schistosomiasis; monitoring disease morbidity by simple reagent strips

“…It forms part of the epidemiological studies on urogenital schistosomiasis conducted among pregnant women between February 1, 2010 and February 15, 2011 [ 9 ]. As previously described in several studies carried out in the study area, transmission of schistosomiasis is aided by lack of potable water supply and presence of snails intermediate hosts of schistosomes [ 9 , 15 , 29 – 31 ].…”

Schistosoma haematobium co-infection with soil-transmitted helminthes: prevalence and risk factors from two communities in the central region of Ghana

“…[16] It is also an important disease during pregnancy, where it may cause premature birth, low birth weight and increased risk of maternal mortality. [17,18] Further, adverse health outcomes coupled with poor educational performance often observed in children suffering from S. haematobium infection and other parasitic diseases is projected to affect future wage earning of infected children. [19] In Ghana, efforts have been made in terms of community education, awareness on schistosomiasis, research (prevalence, diagnosis, risk factors, risk groups, and treatment), and national integrative control initiatives with regard to fight against schistosomiasis.…”