Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis among school going pupils age between 6-14 years in Maruba Primary School, Namayingo district.

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases of poverty (Savioli et al., 2017, Hotez et al., 2007) and endemic in 76 countries , although transmission appears to have been shown to be on the increase in several countries (Colley et al., 2017) and the vast majority of infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa with only 12% receiving Preventive chemotherapy(Savioli et al., 2017). It’s also shown to have the lowest level Preventive chemotherapy spectrum amongst neglected tropical disease control programs (Savioli et al., 2017).

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis among school going pupils in Maruba primary school, Namayingo district.

Method: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study design focusing on the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis among school going pupils in Maruba primary school, Namayingo district. Stool microscopy was used to obtain qualitative data while quantitative data was collected using a short questionnaire that was administered to assess the level of knowledge and risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis among school going pupils.

Results: Of 65 anticipated participants only 55 pupils (85%) provided stool samples for parasitical examinations. 58.2% (32/55) were Males while 41.8% (23/55) were females. The majority of the participants were from the age group of 12-14 years (43.6%). The stool samples collected from school children for analysis of S. mansoni showed none was infected with infection of S. mansoni. However, 7.3% (4/55) of the total children examined were found to have Ascaris lumbricoides infections. Although most of the school going children interviewed 42% reported to using the latrine most of the time for disposal of human excreta. However, 31% of the pupils reported to have defecated near the river at any one time while 27% reported to have defecated in the bush. Out of 55 pupils interviewed for risk factors, 25% (14/55) pupils reported swimming as the major outdoor activity that exposes them to the rivers, 24%(13/55) for fetching water while 22%(12/55) bathing in the river, 16%(9/55) washing of clothes and utensils and 13%(7/55) wading in water

Conclusions: In conclusion, there was a substantially low prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis which doesn’t warranty any public health intervention for school children in the study area. The observed low prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis may have been attained by preventive chemotherapy and improved environmental sanitation and personal hygiene.

Recommendations: For the control of Schistosomiasis, preventive chemotherapy strategy should be done to all school children twice in their primary schooling age. Efforts on sensitization of school going pupils about the predisposing factors of Schistosomiasis should be done by the District Health Officials.