Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021
This study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify risk factors of schistosomiasis among school-aged children in low- and middle-income communities. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to review patient records of school-age children. Data on gender, age, sub-district, area resid...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/12/522 |
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| author | Sunnieboy Lot Njikho Vanessa Cecilia Quan Thokozani Patrick Mbonane Renay Helouise Van Wyk |
| author_facet | Sunnieboy Lot Njikho Vanessa Cecilia Quan Thokozani Patrick Mbonane Renay Helouise Van Wyk |
| author_sort | Sunnieboy Lot Njikho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify risk factors of schistosomiasis among school-aged children in low- and middle-income communities. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to review patient records of school-age children. Data on gender, age, sub-district, area residing in, patient status, history of bilharzia, presence of blood in the urine, and schistosomiasis diagnoses were collected. The data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Logistic regression was employed to determine the factors associated with schistosomiasis. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in the study population was 75%, with higher prevalence observed among male children (89%), children aged between 10 and 14 years (59%), urban areas (51%), and rural-dominated districts, particularly Bushbuckridge (42%) and City of Mbombela (51%). Age, especially 10–14 years old (<i>p ˂</i> 0.01; 95%CI: 1.98–2.29), a history of bilharzia (<i>p =</i> 0.01; 95%CI: 1.15–1.96), and the presence of blood in urine (<i>p ˂</i> 0.01; 95%CI: 2.02–2.40) were significantly associated with schistosomiasis while being a female child was found to be a protective factor (AOR: 0.35; CI 0.35–0.41). This study underscores the importance of implementing robust screening procedures and the necessity for health education to mitigate the high prevalence of schistosomiasis and prevent its further spread. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:19:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-823c56a8eaa6476bbbe81cd5119267dd |
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| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:19:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-823c56a8eaa6476bbbe81cd5119267dd2023-12-22T14:46:29ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662023-12-0181252210.3390/tropicalmed8120522Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021Sunnieboy Lot Njikho0Vanessa Cecilia Quan1Thokozani Patrick Mbonane2Renay Helouise Van Wyk3Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2001, South AfricaPublic Health Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2001, South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2001, South AfricaDepartment of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2001, South AfricaThis study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify risk factors of schistosomiasis among school-aged children in low- and middle-income communities. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to review patient records of school-age children. Data on gender, age, sub-district, area residing in, patient status, history of bilharzia, presence of blood in the urine, and schistosomiasis diagnoses were collected. The data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Logistic regression was employed to determine the factors associated with schistosomiasis. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in the study population was 75%, with higher prevalence observed among male children (89%), children aged between 10 and 14 years (59%), urban areas (51%), and rural-dominated districts, particularly Bushbuckridge (42%) and City of Mbombela (51%). Age, especially 10–14 years old (<i>p ˂</i> 0.01; 95%CI: 1.98–2.29), a history of bilharzia (<i>p =</i> 0.01; 95%CI: 1.15–1.96), and the presence of blood in urine (<i>p ˂</i> 0.01; 95%CI: 2.02–2.40) were significantly associated with schistosomiasis while being a female child was found to be a protective factor (AOR: 0.35; CI 0.35–0.41). This study underscores the importance of implementing robust screening procedures and the necessity for health education to mitigate the high prevalence of schistosomiasis and prevent its further spread.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/12/522schistosomiasisprevalencedistrict municipalitydiseaserisk factorslow- and middle-income community |
| spellingShingle | Sunnieboy Lot Njikho Vanessa Cecilia Quan Thokozani Patrick Mbonane Renay Helouise Van Wyk Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021 Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease schistosomiasis prevalence district municipality disease risk factors low- and middle-income community |
| title | Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021 |
| title_full | Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021 |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021 |
| title_short | Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis Amongst School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Communities: Ehlanzeni District Municipality, South Africa, 2015–2021 |
| title_sort | evaluating the prevalence and risk factors of schistosomiasis amongst school aged children in low and middle income communities ehlanzeni district municipality south africa 2015 2021 |
| topic | schistosomiasis prevalence district municipality disease risk factors low- and middle-income community |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/12/522 |
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