OBJECTIVE: Schistosomiasis is a global parasitic disease and ranks second to malaria in terms of socioeconomic and public health importance in tropical and subtropical areas. It is a disease which remains a major health problem due to the lack of vaccines, the failure to eradicate the mollusc vector and the recent development of parasite resistance to antischistosome drugs. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection among patients visiting Assendabo health center, nearby Gilgel Gibe hydroelectric dam, South-Western Ethiopia. RESULTS: From the total of 198 patients with stool sample 21 (10.61%) were positive for Schistosoma mansoni infection. Of the infected subjects, 11.6% had contact with water for one or more reasons. CONCLUSION: The severity of infection and subsequent impact on the socio-cultural condition needs appropriate control measures especially where the water body which can act as habitat for the intermediate host is available.
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Abebe et al. (2011) studied this question.