PREVALENCE OF URINARY SCHITOSOMIASIS AMONG THE STUDENTS OF FIVE SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IFEDORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ONDO STATE

Abstract

Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis) is water borne parasitic disease caused by a blood fluke (trematode) of the genus Schistosoma. Adult schistosome worms live in mammalian host and the intermediate host is aquatic snail. Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria in terms of prevalence and persistence with grave public health and socio-economic importance in endemic communities. This study assessed the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among students of five selected secondary schools in Ifedore Local Government of Ondo State. A total of four hundred and thirteen (413) students urine samples were examined for eggs of Schistosoma and 57 students (13.8%) excreted eggs of S. haematobium in their urine. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the prevalence of urinary infection between genders. Meanwhile, the prevalence of haematuria was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in male (22.7%) than the female gender (14.4%). The highest prevalence was observed among age group 16 – 18 years (21.7%) while the least prevalence was observed in age group 10 – 12 years (11.5%). The study confirmed the prevalence of S. haematobium in the study area. It is therefore recommended that water control, sanitation and snails elimination as well as community-based programs are urgently needed to reduce the prevalent of urinary schistosomiasis in the study area.