Urinary schistosomiasis among preschool children in a rural community near Abeokuta, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The control of schistosomiasis in Nigeria is mainly by mass treatment with praziquantel through the school system, with an absence of any provision for pre-school children. We therefore determined the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in pre-school children between the ages of 1-6 years in Ilewo-Orile a rural and endemic community, near Abeokuta, Nigeria as part of providing information on the neglected tropical diseases among this age group. Two urine samples were collected from each pre-school child. The samples were tested for microhaematuria using reagent strips and then processed and examined with a microscope for <it>Schistosoma haematobium </it>ova.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 167 children examined 97 (58.1%) had infection, with no significant difference (P = 0.809) in infection rates between boys (57.1%) and girls (59.2%). Both prevalence and intensity of infection did not increase significantly with age (P = 0.732). The overall geometric mean egg count was 1.17 eggs/10 ml urine. There was no significant association (<it>P </it>= 0.387) between intensity in boys (1.16 eggs/10 ml urine) and girls (1.19 eggs/10 ml urine). 47.4% of the children had microhaematuria which did not increase significantly with age (P = 0.526). Focus group discussions with guardians and caregivers revealed that infection of pre-school children early in life was due to exposures through bathing in the stream by their mothers, while the older children would visit the stream for washing, fetching of water, bathing and swimming.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Community participatory health education is needed in this community as a first step in reducing infection and transmission of the disease, while the rehabilitation and repair of the existing water borehole system in the community should be effected. The results of this study have shown that pre-school children also harbour infection and are a source of transmission of schistosomiasis in endemic communities. Planning and provision for their treatment should be considered in control programmes.</p

Biting behaviour of Simulium damnosum complex and Onchocerca volvulus infection along the Osun River, Southwest Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies on biting behaviours and infectivity status of insect vectors are pre-requisites in understanding the epidemiology of the vector- borne diseases and planning effective control measures. A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the transmission index of <it>Simulium damnosum </it>complex species along Osun River, South Western Nigeria. Adult flies were collected on human attractants from 07:00 to 18:00 hours for two consecutive days from February 2008 to June 2009 at three communities: Osun Eleja, Osun Ogbere and Osun Budepo. The infectivity rate was determined by dissection and Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification (PCR) of 0-150 genes of <it>Onchocerca </it>parasite using the pool screening technique.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results indicated that the majority of the flies collected at the three sampling points were nulliparous as they accounted for 53.90%, 57.86% and 59.58% of the flies dissected at Osun Budepo, Osun Ogbere and Osun Eleja, respectively. The parous rate was higher during the dry season than the wet season but the difference was not statistically significant (<it>p </it>< 0.05). The biting activity of the parous flies showed two peaks at Osun Budepo and three peaks at Osun Eleja and Osun Ogbere. Of the 1,472 flies dissected and 1,235 flies screened by molecular method, none was infected with <it>Onchocerca </it>parasite at the three sampling points however the annual biting rates at the three communities were higher than 1,000 considered as tolerable value for a person living in an onchocerciasis zone by Word Health Organization.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study has provided the baseline data for further study on onchocerciasis transmission dynamics and the need to intercept man- simuliid vector contact at the study area.</p

Determinants of Cost of Treating Water-Borne Diseases Among Rural Households in South West Nigeria

This study determined the factors that influence the economic burden of water-borne diseases and the associated financial cost for rural households in southwestern Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select four hundred and thirty-seven rural households from whom data were collected for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cost of illness approach. The results revealed that an average household had six members with an average quarterly income of N80,717.52 (N160.00 = 1US dollar, at time of study). The sum of N28,571.36 was incurred as economic cost of water-borne diseases per household per quarter in the study area. Gender (p\u3c0.05), access to safe water (P\u3c0.1), cholera epidemic (p\u3c0.01), diarrhoea infection (p\u3c0.1), access to improved toilet (p\u3c0.1) and State dummy (p\u3c0.01) were the significant factors affecting economic burden of water-borne diseases in the study area. The study therefore recommends that rural households should consume quality water or water from improved sources (borehole and well water) so as to combat water-borne diseases. They should also seek medical attention when they fall ill. In the same vein, the three tiers of government (federal, state and local) should give more priority to sensitizing rural households on water-borne diseases control programs in order to prevent economic losses resulting from loss of income and shortage of food supply

Determinants of Cost of Treating Water-Borne Diseases Among Rural Households in South West Nigeria

This study determined the factors that influence the economic burden of water-borne diseases and the associated financial cost for rural households in southwestern Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select four hundred and thirty-seven rural households from whom data were collected for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cost of illness approach. The results revealed that an average household had six members with an average quarterly income of N80,717.52 (N160.00 = 1US dollar, at time of study). The sum of N28,571.36 was incurred as economic cost of water-borne diseases per household per quarter in the study area. Gender (p\u3c0.05), access to safe water (P\u3c0.1), cholera epidemic (p\u3c0.01), diarrhoea infection (p\u3c0.1), access to improved toilet (p\u3c0.1) and State dummy (p\u3c0.01) were the significant factors affecting economic burden of water-borne diseases in the study area. The study therefore recommends that rural households should consume quality water or water from improved sources (borehole and well water) so as to combat water-borne diseases. They should also seek medical attention when they fall ill. In the same vein, the three tiers of government (federal, state and local) should give more priority to sensitizing rural households on water-borne diseases control programs in order to prevent economic losses resulting from loss of income and shortage of food supply