Urinary schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma haematobium, remains a major public health problem among school-aged children in rural Nigerian communities. Poor WASH infrastructure and water-dependent economic activities, such as farming, fishing, and laundry, increase contact with infested water sources, thereby sustaining transmission. Despite repeated mass drug administration with praziquantel, high infection levels persist. This study assessed the prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium infection among school children. Aschool-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 332 school children aged 5-16 years from six primary schools across three endemic local government areas (LGAs) in Ogun State: Abeokuta North, Yewa North, and Odeda. Urine samples were collected and processed through centrifugation and microscopy methods to examine the presence of S. haematobium ova. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 27, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The overall prevalence was 55.7%, with 77.8%, 63.9%, and 31.9% in Abeokuta North, Odeda, and Yewa North, respectively. The highest prevalence of 90.3% was observed at Community Primary School Imala-Odo in Abeokuta North. About 51.7% of the participants had received praziquantel for five years, and about 73.8% relied on the river as their main source of water. High prevalence and infection intensity persist despite praziquantel administration, underscoring the need for integrated control measures, including health education and improved water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, to reduce transmission in these areas.
Ibrahim et al. (Fri,) studied this question.