Background and Aim: Schistosomiasis categoried as water-based diseases transmit by skin contact with the contaminated water. Children at school age are the highly vulnerable victims of the disease. The aim of the study was to measure the schistosomiasis prevalence and determine the influence of ecological and behavioral factors associated with the situation of the disease prevalence.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study the multi-stage cluster random method was used to select a sample size of 1188 children, aged six to18 years, from 16 villages located around the agricultural schemes in the Shendi locality. The data were collected using structured questionnaires, observation and laboratory investigation for the urine samples of the selected children. In addition, checklists lists were used to drive the levels of knowledge about the schistosomiasis.
Results: The results showed 33.3% positive cases. Males reported higher prevalence (35.1%) than females (27.5%), this difference was associated with the dominant culture in the area, that male responsible for providing family needs, and they were more exposed to the disease incidence. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was highest (59.8%) among age groups of 11-15 years. The bridges to cross over the irrigation canals also was one of the important risk factors enhancing it spread in the area. A highly significant association was found between the schitosomiasis prevalence, behavioral and ecological factors.
Conclusions: The urinary schistosomiasis representing a public health problem in the area. Environmental and cultural factors were significantly associated with the prevalence of the disease in the locality.
Key words: Haematobium Schistosomiasis, Public health, Infectious-disease, Water-based disease
|
