INCIDENCE OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND THE CONTRIBUTORY RISKS FACTORS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

ABSTRACT Urinary schistosomiasis though not very prevalent is still found in some parts of Nigeria especially among primary school children who do not know effective sanitary measures of protecting themselves from the infection. This research therefore aimed at evaluating the incidence of urinary schistosomiasis and factors that promote the infection among primary school children in Tse-Ikpam, Makurdi so as to provide information relating to this area of study. One hundred (100) urine samples were collected randomly from three basic primary schools of Tse Ikpam Village North Bank Makurdi, namely; Our Lady of Fatima Nursery and primary school, North-bank Makurdi, Opif schools, Behind federal housing estate extension, North-bank, Total Child Academy primary school Tse Ikpam, North bank Makurdi. Urine samples collected from the various primary schools were examined in the laboratory using the sedimentation technique. The infection was highest in Opif schools, behind federal housing estate extension North bank, 4(8%) out of 50 pupils in that school were infected, in the Our Lady of Fatima Nursery and primary school, North-bank Makurdi, 2 cases (5.7%) were recorded, in Total Child Academy primary school Tse Ikpam, North bank Makurdi the infection was 13.3 % (2), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.70). Majority of the participants were aged between 5 years and 10 years, (84%), and they were the most infected 7(8.3%) the difference was statistically insignificant when compared P = 0.79. Sex; was found to be statistically associated with prevalence of the infection P=0.00, majority of the participants were males 66(66%) and 6(9.1%) of them were infected, females were 34(34%) and 2(5.8%) of them were infected. Children are to be protected from risk factors that endanger them especially the type of water they were exposed to.