Abstract:
The aim of this study was to conduct a parasitological survey of Schistosoma
haematobium infection among school children in Mkuranga District. The study has three
specific objectives: First, to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis, second to
determine the intensity of infection of urinary Schistomiasis and third to assess awareness,
knowledge, attitude and practices related to the occurrences of urinary schistosomiasis
among school children in Mkuranga District. The data for this study were collected using a
structured questionnaire that was administered to a random sample of 420 primary schools
pupils within four divisions in Mkuranga District. Laboratory work was done at Mkuranga
District Hospital in the parasitological department, after a single terminal urine sample
collected from each participant. Descriptive statistics including means, standard
deviation, frequencies ,percentage was analysed using Statistical Package for Social
Science version 20 (SPSS version 20). Prevalence for urinary schistosomiasis were
determined by considering number of positive urine sample collected in the study
population from November to December 2014 and intensity were calculated using
geometric mean intensity (GMI). After that the results were presented using tables, graphs
and charts. The findings revealed that of the combined total of 420 pupils (225 males and
195 females) examined in this study an overall prevalence rate of Schistosomasis of 9.2%
was obtained. Severe infection of S. haematobium ova was higher for the male pupils (86
ova/10ml) compared to female (79.2 ova/10ml). Prevalence of Schistosomasis infection
was significantly higher for male pupils compared to their counterpart female pupils.
Pupils of age 13 were found to have severe infection 118.2ova/10ml compared to other
pupils in other age groups. Prevalence and severity or intensity of the infection was
relatively higher in Mkamba division (16.1%) compared to other divisions. Overall level
of awareness and knowledge about Schistosomiasis amongst school pupils in Mkurangaiii
was relatively high. Majority (92.4%) of the pupils in this study have knowledge on
urinary schistosomiasis.Urinary Schistosomiasis is particularly common in the study area,
89% of the pupils in this study have had experience of urinating blood sometime in their
life time. Pupil’s mentioned various ways of preventing Schistosomiasis, but the majority
mentioned to continue with Praziquantel-MDA. Therefore, community-based treatment
using Praziquantel should first be targeted to school-age children. This high risk group can
be reached through the primary school system, in collaboration with the educational sector
health education, large-scale chemotherapy and media campaign for all schoolchildren to
decrease the prevalence and intensity of infection.
