SCHISTOSOMIASIS: A NEGLECTED DISEASE IN A NEGLECTED GROUP IN NIGERIA
METHODS: Seventy orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) who live in a faith based non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Ibadan, Nigeria, providing holistic support to OVCs were studied following a complaint of terminal haematuria by six of the children using an interviewer administered questionnaire. These children migrated with their families to Baruten, Kwara, Nigeria for farming purposes. They were however taken by the NGO for educational purposes following parental consents. Parasitological data was drawn from baseline urine surveys of the study population. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Burden of schistosomiasis was determined in the source population (total population was 209,459) based on an extrapolation of 4% target population for children in Nigeria.
RESULTS: Mean age of respondents was 11.8 ± 4.0 years, 60.0% were males, 42.9% were from Baruten, Nigeria, 20.0% had confirmed schistosomiasis of which 85.7% were from Baruten. 41.4% of the respondents from Baruten had confirmed urinary schistosomiasis of which 96.6% had water bodies in their settlements and 86.7% had history of wading in water. About 8, 379 of children in the source population is expected to have schistosomiasis. This work is still in progress. Infected children have been treated with praziquantel and we hope to contact the Medical Officer of Health of the source community so as to carry out further investigations and effect appropriate control.
CONCLUSIONS:
To halt the cycle of transmission in migrants, infection control programs for them should be targeted at both the native and study communities.