Pan African Journal of Life Sciences(PAJOLS)

A publication of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences,
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso

PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 4, No. 2, August 2020
Pages 51-58

DOI: 10.36108/pajols/0202/40(0230)

Evaluation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Facilities and Its Association with Urinary Schistosomiasis in Selected Settlements of Osun State, Nigeria
Olabanji A. Surakat1*, Oluwapelumi R. Alabi1, Tomiwa E. Ogundana1, Mu-hammed A. Rufai1, Monsuru A. Adeleke1, Sammy O. Sam-Wobo2, Chiedu F. Mafiana3

1Department of of Zoology, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
2Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria

3National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Urinary schistosomiasisis a debilitating Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) spreads when infected people urinate close to a water source, contaminating it with the larvae of the parasite, it is associated with lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in rural and semi-urban settlements. This study was conducted to evaluate the availability of WASH facilities and its impact on the prevalence of schistosomia-sis among school-aged children in Ota-Efun (Semi-urban) and Ilie (Rural) communities of Olorunda LGA of Osun State, Nigeria between June and October, 2019
Methods: Two hundred and forty-three participants from the two communities provided urine samples which were examined for Schistosoma haematobium cyst using FLOTAC filtration device and microscopy. Using structured questionnaires, information on the demographic, hygienic practices, and availability of WASH facilities in participants homes was obtained
Results: Results showed a cumulative urinary schistosomiasis prevalence of 46% (51/110) in Ilie (rural) compared to 0% (0/133) in Ota Efun (Urban) settlement. In Ilie community, highest prevalence (19.1%) was recorded among participants within the age group (11-13 years) and lowest (7.3%) among age class 14 and above. When compared with the prevalence results, majority (61%) of residents in Ilie lacked access to toilet facilities while 64% were regularly involved in water contact activities such as swimming, bathing and washing of clothes by the river. Conversely, in Ota-Efun, majority (87.2%) of participants had access to pipe-borne water with controlled access to the stream (4.5%) .
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest ongoing transmission of schistosomiasis in Ilie community and that frequent water contact activities including swimming and bathing are risk factors for infection .We recommend that WASH facilities should be effectively integrated into ongoing health policy for the control of neglected tropical diseases in Osun State in order to ameliorate the devastating effects of schistosomiasis in the affect-ed communities
Keywords: WASH, S. haematobium, Rural and Urban settlements, Osun State, Nigeria

 

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