Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the current status of urinary schistosomiasis on 552 pupils from seven primary schools in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria using haematuria and parasitological tests. Males that complied were 75% to 25% females. Children within the age-group of 10 to 14 years were more (65%) when compared with other age groups. Out of the 552 samples examined, 35 (6%) tested positive for blood in urine while 20 (3.6%) tested positive for Schistosoma haematobium ova. The percentage of the females that tested positive were higher than male; however, the difference in prevalence was not significant (p>0.05). Though, the prevalence of the infection was relatively low, there is still need for coordinated public enlightenment of the pupils on the danger of contacting the infection from contaminated rivers and streams in their surrounding areas. Government also needs to provide more social amenities to reduce or eradicate the infection in the study area.

Key words: Schistosomiasis, school children, Abeokuta, Nigeria.