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

Background: 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...

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Main Authors: Sady, H., Al-Mekhlafi, H.M., Mahdy, M.A.K., Lim, Y.A.L., Mahmud, R., Surin, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science 2013
Subjects:
R Medicine
Online Access:http://eprints.um.edu.my/8683/1/Sady-2013-Prevalence_and_Assoc.pdf
http://eprints.um.edu.my/8683/
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spelling my.um.eprints.86832017-07-10T03:45:05Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/8683/ Prevalence and associated factors of schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme Sady, H. Al-Mekhlafi, H.M. Mahdy, M.A.K. Lim, Y.A.L. Mahmud, R. Surin, J. R Medicine Background: 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. Methods/Findings: 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. Conclusions/Significance: 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. Public Library of Science 2013 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://eprints.um.edu.my/8683/1/Sady-2013-Prevalence_and_Assoc.pdf Sady, H. and Al-Mekhlafi, H.M. and Mahdy, M.A.K. and Lim, Y.A.L. and Mahmud, R. and Surin, J. (2013) Prevalence and associated factors of schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 7 (8). ISSN 1935-2727 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002377
institution Universiti Malaya
building UM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaya
content_source UM Research Repository
url_provider http://eprints.um.edu.my/
language English
topic R Medicine
spellingShingle R Medicine
Sady, H.
Al-Mekhlafi, H.M.
Mahdy, M.A.K.
Lim, Y.A.L.
Mahmud, R.
Surin, J.
Prevalence and associated factors of schistosomiasis among children in Yemen: implications for an effective control programme
description Background: 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. Methods/Findings: 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. Conclusions/Significance: 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.
format Article
author Sady, H.
Al-Mekhlafi, H.M.
Mahdy, M.A.K.
Lim, Y.A.L.
Mahmud, R.
Surin, J.
author_facet Sady, H.
Al-Mekhlafi, H.M.
Mahdy, M.A.K.
Lim, Y.A.L.
Mahmud, R.
Surin, J.
author_sort Sady, H.
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
publishDate 2013
url http://eprints.um.edu.my/8683/1/Sady-2013-Prevalence_and_Assoc.pdf
http://eprints.um.edu.my/8683/
_version_ 1643688357422694400
score 13.211869

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