Urinary schistosomiasis, perception and treatment-seeking behaviour in Sankwala, Cross River State, south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Studies on perception, water contact activities, treatment seeking behaviours and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in Sankwala were conducted at four endemic sites namely Central Primary School, Community Secondary School, Godbey Secondary Commercial School and Ipale Community. A total of 620 subjects were tested. The prevalence of infection was 37.90%. Intensity of infection was measured by the filtration technique while proteinuria and haematuria were measured using Combi . 9 test strip. The degree of awareness of infection among subject was tested using well-structured questionnaire. The degree of awareness stood at 94.75% though none of the respondents knew the causative agent of urinary schistosomiasis. The number of respondents that accepted involvement in one water-related activity or the other was 77.18%. The interrelationship between infection and water contact, fresh water snails and the presence of blood in urine is understood by the subjects to an appreciable degree. The treatment seeking behaviour of the respondents is also presented. Control measures based on the socio-ecological settings of Sankwala is presented while emphasis on further research in this hitherto undiscovered endemic focus is strongly suggested.