Environmental and Behavioral Determinants of Schistosomiasis in Bodo Community, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Schistosomiasis, caused by parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, remains a major public health challenge in many tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in communities with inadequate access to sanitation and safe drinking water. In Rivers State, Nigeria, the Bodo community is an endemic area for schistosomiasis, with high transmission rates linked to frequent water contact activities in contaminated freshwater bodies. Aim: This study aims to identify and analyze the environmental and behavioral determinants to the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Bodo community. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey was conducted, collecting both water samples and behavioral data from 200 randomly selected participants. Methodology: DNA was extracted from samples using the Qiagen Blood DNA extraction kit (Qiagen, Germany). The extracted DNA was amplified using set of primers, namely ITTS2F (TAA CAA ggT TCC gTA ggT gAA) and ITTS1R (TgC TTA AgT TCA gCg gT), targeting the ITS region of S. haematobium, S. mansoni, and the SR1 and SR2 regions of S. mansoni/S. japonicum. Result: The overall Schistosoma prevalence was found to be 18.5% (P<0.001), with Schistosoma japonicum (40.5%) being the most prevalent species, followed by S. mansoni (32.4%) and S. haematobium (27%). The chi-square value (χ² = 79.38) with a p-value < 0.001 shows that the difference between positive and negative cases is highly significant statistically. Factors significantly influencing prevalence (P≤0.027) included using river/stream as the main water source, daily visits to water bodies, spending over 15 minutes in the river, and the presence of livestock and snails. Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to mitigate schistosomiasis transmission in the Bodo community.