Prevalence, intensity and risk factors for urogenital schistosomiasis in Pujini Shehia, Pemba island.

Human schistosomiasis is a paracitic disease caused by blood flukes (trematodes) of the genus Schistosoma. The disease is estimated to affect 249 million people worldwide, of which at least 224 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. It ranks second only to malaria as the most common parasitic disease, killing an estimated 280,000 people each year in the African region alone. S. haematobium is the etiologic agent of urogenial schistosomiasis and it is most prevalent in Africa. Despite several control programmes since 1986, urogenital schistosomiasis has persisted among communities on Pemba Island, Tanzania. This cross-sectional study was conducted in six villages of Pujini shehia; Kijili, Kumvini, Mtimbu, Kibaridi, Kimbu and Dodo to determine the status of the disease in the area. The study which was conducted during the dry season (August to October 2016), involved both school children and adults. A total of 375 individuals aged 4 to 80 years were randomly selected and enrolled into the study. About 367 urine samples were collected and examined for schistosome eggs using the urine filtration method. A total of 332 questionnaires were administered and face-to-face interviews and focus group discussion conducted to capture communities‟ demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) towards schistosomiasis. Overall the infection prevalence of S. haematobium was 9.0% (33/367). Participants had good knowledge (67 %) and practices (97.3%) as well as, positive attitudes (91.5%) towards schistosomiais. Irrigation farming, water fetching and swimming or bathing were the major water contact activities that exposed people to schistosomiasis in the study area. Open water sources were also risky areas for schistosomiasis transmission in Pujini while participant‟s occupation, age, education and frequency of water contact were the factors associated with acquisition of the disease in the area. Thus, integrated approaches including provision of health education would be appropriate measures