EC Gynaecology

This study was a cross-sectional based study carried out with a structured questionnaire administered to 270 primary schools pupils from four primary schools in four communities. Urine microscopy was carried out using sedimentation method. Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was determined by considering number of positive urine samples collected and intensity were calculated using geometric mean intensity (GMI) and observing the egg count/10 ml of urine. The findings revealed that out of the 270 pupils examined, 153 (56.7%) were males and 117 (43.3%) were females. An overall prevalence rate of 23 (8.5%) was obtained. Severe infection of S. haematobium ova was higher for the male pupils (60 ova/10 ml) compared to female (40 ova/10 ml). Data was analyzed using (SPSS version 20) Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis infection was higher for male pupils 14 (9.2%) compared to their counterpart female pupils 9 (7.7%) (χ² = 0.181, p-value = 0.671.). There was no significant difference in the infection, p < 0.05 Pupils of age group 9-12 were found to have high prevalence of 13 (11.93%) compared to other pupils in other age groups, χ² = 3.248, p-value = 0.197. Prevalence and intensity of the infection was relatively higher in Community Primary School Enyibichiri (17.8%) χ² = 0.181, p-value = 0.671. The level of awareness and knowledge of infection amongst school pupils was average. Some practices like drinking of infested freshwater, defecating, urinating, swimming, washing and bathing in canals are still being practiced. There is need for stringent laws to curtail these practices.

Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Schistosomiasis; Schistosoma haematobium; Cercariae

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