Prevalence and parasitological assessment of Schistosoma haematobium infection among patients attending Asokoro District Hospital Abuja

Abstract

A total of 150 early morning midstream urine samples, 5 ml each, were aseptically collected from patients in Asokoro District Hospital for the detection of Schistosoma haematobium ova. Basic epidemiological information were obtained via pre-test structured questionnaires administered with the assistance of medical laboratory staff. Following centrifugation by the sedimentation method, the urinary sediment was deposited onto a clean glass microscope slide and examined under a light microscope for the presence of Schistosoma haematobium ova. Out of the 150 samples (76 male and 74 female), 10 (6.7%) were infected with Schistosoma haematobium, out of which males had a prevalence of 9.3% compared to 4.1% among females. Statistical analysis revealed that there was significant difference in the prevalence between male and female. The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium in relation to age shows that ages 15 – 24 had the highest rate of 40.0%. Statistical analysis in relation to source of drinking water (borehole, pipeborne, well and river), shows that borehole (3.6%) had the highest rate of occurrence followed by pipeborne source (1.26%). Statistical analysis also showed no significant association with source of drinking water and between between sex and infection status (P≥0.05). Similarly, analysis revealed no statistically significant effect of methods of fecal disposal on the prevalence.