Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.

Schistosomiasis, one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases, is a life-threatening public health problem in Yemen especially in rural communities. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of schistosomiasis among children in rural Yemen.Urine...

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Main Authors: Hany Sady, Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi, Mohammed A K Mahdy, Yvonne A L Lim, Rohela Mahmud, Johari Surin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3749985?pdf=render
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spelling doaj-1574f1f9320546c3954e40490b75e1622020-11-24T20:51:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352013-01-0178e237710.1371/journal.pntd.0002377Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.Hany SadyHesham M Al-MekhlafiMohammed A K MahdyYvonne A L LimRohela MahmudJohari SurinSchistosomiasis, one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases, is a life-threatening public health problem in Yemen especially in rural communities. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of schistosomiasis among children in rural Yemen.Urine and faecal samples were collected from 400 children. Urine samples were examined using filtration technique for the presence of Schistosoma haematobium eggs while faecal samples were examined using formalin-ether concentration and Kato Katz techniques for the presence of S. mansoni. Demographic, socioeconomic and environmental information were collected via a validated questionnaire. Overall, 31.8% of the participants were found to be positive for schistosomiasis; 23.8% were infected with S. haematobium and 9.3% were infected with S. mansoni. Moreover, 39.5% of the participants were anaemic whereas 9.5% had hepatosplenomegaly. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was significantly higher among children aged >10 years compared to those aged ≤ 10 years (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed that presence of other infected family member (P<0.001), low household monthly income (P = 0.003), using unsafe sources for drinking water (P = 0.003), living nearby stream/spring (P = 0.006) and living nearby pool/pond (P = 0.002) were the key factors significantly associated with schistosomiasis among these children.This study reveals that schistosomiasis is still highly prevalent in Yemen. These findings support an urgent need to start an integrated, targeted and effective schistosomiasis control programme with a mission to move towards the elimination phase. Besides periodic drug distribution, health education and community mobilisation, provision of clean and safe drinking water, introduction of proper sanitation are imperative among these communities in order to curtail the transmission and morbidity caused by schistosomiasis. Screening and treating other infected family members should also be adopted by the public health authorities in combating this infection in these communities.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3749985?pdf=render
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Hany Sady
Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi
Mohammed A K Mahdy
Yvonne A L Lim
Rohela Mahmud
Johari Surin
spellingShingle Hany Sady
Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi
Mohammed A K Mahdy
Yvonne A L Lim
Rohela Mahmud
Johari Surin
Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
author_facet Hany Sady
Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi
Mohammed A K Mahdy
Yvonne A L Lim
Rohela Mahmud
Johari Surin
author_sort Hany Sady
title Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.
title_short Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.
title_full Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.
title_fullStr Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and associated factors of Schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme.
title_sort prevalence and associated factors of schistosomiasis among children in yemen: implications for an effective control programme.
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
series PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
issn 1935-2727
1935-2735
publishDate 2013-01-01
description Schistosomiasis, one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases, is a life-threatening public health problem in Yemen especially in rural communities. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of schistosomiasis among children in rural Yemen.Urine and faecal samples were collected from 400 children. Urine samples were examined using filtration technique for the presence of Schistosoma haematobium eggs while faecal samples were examined using formalin-ether concentration and Kato Katz techniques for the presence of S. mansoni. Demographic, socioeconomic and environmental information were collected via a validated questionnaire. Overall, 31.8% of the participants were found to be positive for schistosomiasis; 23.8% were infected with S. haematobium and 9.3% were infected with S. mansoni. Moreover, 39.5% of the participants were anaemic whereas 9.5% had hepatosplenomegaly. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was significantly higher among children aged >10 years compared to those aged ≤ 10 years (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed that presence of other infected family member (P<0.001), low household monthly income (P = 0.003), using unsafe sources for drinking water (P = 0.003), living nearby stream/spring (P = 0.006) and living nearby pool/pond (P = 0.002) were the key factors significantly associated with schistosomiasis among these children.This study reveals that schistosomiasis is still highly prevalent in Yemen. These findings support an urgent need to start an integrated, targeted and effective schistosomiasis control programme with a mission to move towards the elimination phase. Besides periodic drug distribution, health education and community mobilisation, provision of clean and safe drinking water, introduction of proper sanitation are imperative among these communities in order to curtail the transmission and morbidity caused by schistosomiasis. Screening and treating other infected family members should also be adopted by the public health authorities in combating this infection in these communities.
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3749985?pdf=render
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