Water Contact Activities and Prevalence of Schistosomiasis Infection among School-age Children in Communities along an Irrigation Scheme in Rural Northern Ghana

Abstract

Of the various trematodes that infect humans, schistosomes remain among the most prevalent, and the various forms of schistosomiasis still pose significant public health problems. The prevalence of schistosomiasis infection among in-school and not-in-school children resident in communities along the Tono irrigation canals in northern Ghana was determined. Stool and urine samples from random representative samples were parasitologically examined using the Kato-Katz and 10 ml urine filtration methods respectively. A total of 920 children (mean age: 11.0 yrs; range: 6-15 yrs; STD Dev: 4.6 yrs), 573 (62.3%) males and 347 (37.7%) females with 473 in-school and 447 not-in-school participated in the study. The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 33.2% (305/920) whilst that of S. mansoni was 19.8% (95% CI: 17.3-22.5; 182/920). The overall prevalence of infection (S. haematobium plus S. mansoni) was 47.7% (439/920). Many more males (51.7%; 95% CI: 47.5-55.8) than females (41.2%; 95% CI: 36.0-46.6) were infected. Forty-six (5.0%, 46/920) children were infected with both S. haematobium and S. mansoni. There was no difference in the prevalence of infection (S. haematobium plus S. mansoni) among children in-school (48.4%; 95% CI: 43.8-53.0) and those not-in-school (46.5%; 95% CI: 41.8-51.3). There was a statistically significant difference in prevalence of infection among communities (P=0.0002); with the lowest level of infection in residents of Korania (29.9%; CI: 20.0-41.4) and the highest among those resident in Kajelo (64.9%; CI: 51.1-77.1), with significant differences in levels of water contact activities (χ 2 =6.69; P=0.04). The highest intensity of S. mansoni infection (115.6 epg) was in Bonia where the highest prevalence of blood stained stools was collected (5.5%). Overall, 2.8% (26/920; 95% CI: 1.9-4.2) of stool samples were blood stained, whilst 10% (92/920; 95% CI: 8.2-12.2) of children had haematuria. S. haematobium ova were detected in 98.9% (91/92) of blood stained urine samples. Children infected by S. mansoni were more likely to have blood stained stool (χ 2 =32.7; P<0.0001). The prevalence of schistosomiasis infection in the irrigation project site is high, adding praziquantel to albendazole and ivermectin for distribution during the annual mass drug administration for filariasis and onchocerciasis control will be an effective way of reaching all at risk groups in the Kassena-Nankana district for the control of schistosomiasis.

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

“…The overall prevalence of infection (S. haematobium + S. mansoni) was found to be significantly higher among males than females a situation that has been observed in many other studies in schistosomiasis endemic communities [8,[14][15][16][17][18][19]. The observation by Amuta and Houmsou [15] was explained in terms of higher tendency of water contact activities among males through swimming and washing of clothes.…”

“…The Tono irrigation scheme has a 4 km long dam and a canal system of about 42 km. This provides a favourable environment not only for the proliferation of the snail intermediate hosts of the disease but also a convenient recreational ground for children to swim and wash clothes [5,8].…”

“…The current paper, to the best of our knowledge is the first comprehensive parasitological report on schistosomiasis that has covered the entire district [5,7,8].…”

Schistosoma mansoni Infection Prevalence and Associated Determinant Factors among School Children in Mana District, Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, South West Ethiopia

“…14.4% from Brazil [31], 4.6% from Jos Nigeria [32], 12.6% from Agaie Niger state Nigeria [33], and 19.8% from Ghana [34]. This difference may be because of ecological variation, Climatic condition of study area, sample size used, contact with open water sources which is infested with infective stage of the parasites and presence of intermediate in water bodies in the area.…”

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Schistosomiasis Among Primary Schoolchildren in Al–mahweet Governorate, Yemen

“…Despite progress in control, schistosomiasis remains endemic in 76 countries, with an estimated 200 million people infected, of whom 120 million are symptomatic and 20 million have severe disease [GOSELLE, et al, 2010;ANTO, et al, 2013;HAILE, et al, 2012] . Eight hundred million people worldwide are at risk of this infection [SADY, et al, 2013;GRIMES, et al, 2014, YUSUF, et al, 2015 .…”