<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

A cross-sectional survey of <italic>Schistosoma haematobium</italic> prevalence was conducted among senior primary school pupils of Siphofaneni area, Eswatini. This area is devoid of potable water, with a newly constructed Lubovane dam and an LUSIP irrigation scheme. The objective of the study was to investigate the distribution of urinary schistosomiasis among Siphofaneni senior primary school pupils. Using simple random sampling, 200 partcipants were enroled from four of six schools in the area. Ten millimetres (10 ml) of urine samples were obtained from each participant and examined for <italic>S. haematobium</italic> eggs. The intensity of the infection was estimated by calculating the total number of <italic>S. haematobium</italic> eggs present in 10 ml urine. Out of 200 participants, 45% (n = 91) were males, and 55% (n = 109) were females. The mean age for participants was 13 years, and almost half (47%, n = 94) were in Grade 5. Overall, the prevalence of <italic>S. haematobium</italic> infection was 16% (32/200). More than half (59%, 19/32) of the Schistosomiasis cases were from females. Positive and significant associations were observed between the number of eggs (χ2=170.9) and the presence of red blood cells (χ2=49.2) at <italic>p</italic> = 0.001. In conclusion, the prevalence of Schistosomiasis is high among pupils enrolled in Siphofaneni area primary schools that needs comprehensive treatment and education to prevent from <italic>S. haematobium</italic> infection.
</abstract>

A cross-sectional survey of Schistosoma haematobium prevalence was conducted among senior primary school pupils of Siphofaneni area, Eswatini. This area is devoid of potable water, with a newly constructed Lubovane dam and an LUSIP irrigation scheme. The objective of the study was to investigate the distribution of urinary schistosomiasis among Siphofaneni senior primary school pupils. Using simple random sampling, 200 partcipants were enroled from four of six schools in the area. Ten millimetres (10 ml) of urine samples were obtained from each participant and examined for S. haematobium eggs. The intensity of the infection was estimated by calculating the total number of S. haematobium eggs present in 10 ml urine. Out of 200 participants, 45% (n = 91) were males, and 55% (n = 109) were females. The mean age for participants was 13 years, and almost half (47%, n = 94) were in Grade 5. Overall, the prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 16% (32/200). More than half (59%, 19/32) of the Schistosomiasis cases were from females. Positive and significant associations were observed between the number of eggs (χ2=170.9) and the presence of red blood cells (χ2=49.2) at p = 0.001. In conclusion, the prevalence of Schistosomiasis is high among pupils enrolled in Siphofaneni area primary schools that needs comprehensive treatment and education to prevent from S. haematobium infection.

Prevalence and distribution of urinary schistosomiasis among senior primary school pupils of Siphofaneni area in the low veld of Eswatini: A cross-sectional study

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences

Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

A cross-sectional survey of Schistosoma haematobium prevalence was conducted among senior primary school pupils of Siphofaneni area, Eswatini. This area is...

Prevalence and distribution of urinary schistosomiasis among senior primary school pupils of Siphofaneni area in the low veld of Eswatini: A cross-sectional study

Published Online: Jun 04, 2023

Page range: 28 - 35

Received: Apr 05, 2022

Accepted: Feb 21, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2023-0005

Keywords
Prevalence, Schistosomiasis haematobium, Senior primary school children, Eswatini

© 2023 T. S. B. Maseko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Prevalence and distribution of urinary schistosomiasis among senior primary school pupils of Siphofaneni area in the low veld of Eswatini: A cross-sectional study

Published Online: Jun 04, 2023

Page range: 28 - 35

Received: Apr 05, 2022

Accepted: Feb 21, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2023-0005

KeywordsPrevalence, Schistosomiasis haematobium, Senior primary school children, Eswatini

© 2023 T. S. B. Maseko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Prevalence, Schistosomiasis haematobium, Senior primary school children, Eswatini