Open AccessPersistence of Schistosoma haematobium transmission among school children and its implication for the control of urogenital schistosomiasis in Lindi, Tanzania
Author(s) -
Vivian Mushi,
Abdallah Zacharia,
Magdalena Shao,
Marycelina Mubi,
Donath Tarimo
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0263929
Subject(s) - schistosoma haematobium , tanzania , schistosomiasis , transmission (telecommunications) , environmental health , coinfection , biology , logistic regression , schistosoma , demography , medicine , immunology , geography , helminths , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , schistosoma mansoni , engineering , environmental planning , sociology , electrical engineering
Background Despite twelve rounds of school-based preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis in endemic areas of Tanzania such as Mtama district, Lindi: the burden of Schistosoma haematobium infection has remained highly conceivable due to re-infections. The factors associated with continuity of S . haematobium transmission in Mtama district, Lindi have not been fully established. This study investigated the burden and factors contributing to the ongoing transmission of S . haematobium infection in the endemic district of Mtama, Lindi. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional survey was carried out among 649 school-age children in the Mtama district to determine the burden and factors associated with continuity of S . haematobium infection transmission. A single urine specimen was obtained from each pupil and tested for macro- and microhaematuria, presence of S . haematobium ova, as well intensity of infection; this was complemented with a survey of Bulinus spp snail intermediate hosts and their infectivity. A structured questionnaire was employed to gather information on individual and environmental risk factors for S . haematobium transmission. Summary statistics were computed for individual variables; while a univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between risk factors with S . haematobium infection. Results Prevalence of S . haematobium infection by macro- and microhaematuria was 13.1% and 46.2% respectively. The prevalence of S . haematobium ova was 52.7%; intensity of infection was light in 53.1%, and heavy in 46.9%. Snail intermediate hosts were Bulinus globosus and B . nasutus , whose infectivity was 2.2% and 1.3%, respectively. Among the assessed risk factors, long residency (10–13 years) in the area was a significant risk factor for the continuity of S . haematobium transmission (AOR: 21.79, 95% CI: 1.37–346.4). Conclusions The observed 52.7% prevalence of S . haematobium infection represents unacceptably high prevalence after 12 rounds of preventive chemotherapy. Therefore, an urgent need for the implementation of integrated multiple control interventions in the Mtama district; is considered to be imperative.