Distribution of Urinary Schistosomiasis and Associated Risk Factors in School-Age Children in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Schistosomiasis remains a public health concern in developing countries. This study assessed the current status of urinary schistosomiasis among school-age children in Kwara State, Nigeria. Of the 1,341 school-age pupils investigated, 277 (20.7%) were infected, with 26.84% from Kwara South, 18.83% from Kwara Central, and 14.29% from Kwara North. The overall geometric mean intensity and mean population egg density varied significantly across the senatorial districts (9.37 ± 2.66 versus 14.95 ± 16.41 eggs per 10mL of urine). Males (22.3%) were more infected than females (19%), while children aged &gt; 15 and ≤ 5 years had the highest prevalence and intensity, respectively (37.5%; 12.18 ± 2.74 eggs per 10mL of urine). A binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the source of drinking water, duration of community-stay, and non-awareness of infection were not significant predictors of <italic>Schistosoma haematobium</italic> infection. All forms of water contact activities were associated with increased and significant (p &lt; 0.01) odds of predicting <italic>S</italic>. <italic>haematobium</italic> infection, the most important being fishing [Odd Ratio (OR): 114.951, p &lt; 0.001]. Daily, weekly, and monthly water contact frequency was insignificant in predicting the odds of <italic>S. haematobium</italic> infection. However, no history of previous drug treatment was a significant risk factor (OR: 2.092; p = 0.002). Urinary schistosomiasis is very much present among school-age children in Kwara State. Strengthening schistosomiasis surveillance systems to identify communities with no or long history of preventive chemotherapy and ensuring even distribution of these resources is critical to morbidity reduction and disease control.