A Study on the Epidemiology of Urinary Schistosomiasis in Shongom Local Government Area, Gombe State-Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis in Shongom LGA, Gombe State between July and November 2013. Six hundred urine samples were examined microscopically for Schistosoma haematobium eggs using the sedimentation method. The overall result showed (27.3%) prevalence of infection in the study area. Kulishin ward had the highest (40.2%) infection rate and Kushi ward had the least (19.6%) for males. Bangunji ward had the highest (30.2%) infection rate and Kushi ward had the lowest (5.5%) infection rate for females. Infection rate in relation to Gender showed that males (32.3%) were more infected than their females (16.6%) counterparts. There was significant difference between infection and gender (p < 0.05). High infection rate (38.4%) was observed in age groups 12-17 years old and 42-above had no infection. There was significant difference between infection and Age groups (p < 0.05). The high prevalence (40.8%) in age group 12-17 years and (33.3%) in 18-23 years was found in males and females respectively. Kulishin ward had high (37%) infection rate while Kushi ward had the least (17.0%) infection rate and there was a significant difference between infection and Ward (p < 0.05). Students were the most infected (40.0%) and civil servant had no infection. There was significant difference between infection and the peoples' Occupation (p < 0.05). The prevalence was highest (37.0%) among those that people that used water from Dam/stream/borehole, the least (25.3%) infection was those that used stream/borehole. There was significant difference between infection and sources of water supply (p < 0.05). There was high prevalence urinary Schistosomiasis among the study subjects in the study area. For this reason, there is need for integrated control measures such as snails, hygiene and mass drug administration to reduce the effect of the disease.