PREVALENCE OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN COMBONI AND TOKLOKPO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (JHS) AT SOGAKOPE

Schistosomiasis remains an important parasitic disease worldwide. The level of prevalence of schistosomiasis in the Sogakope district is essentially due to the frequent exposure of the inhabitants to water bodies such as the Lake Volta and other lakes. This research investigated the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Toklokpo (about two kilometres from the bank of the Volta River) and Comboni (situated along the bank of the river Volta) in the Sogakope district. A total of 150 samples of urine were taken: Seventy-five from Toklokpo JHS and 75 from Comboni JHS. Each of the 75 samples was selected randomly from boys and girls. The urine samples were processed by the centrifugal sedimentation technique. The total prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in the study area was 26%. The prevalence rates of urinary schistosomiasis in the two schools were 12.6 % and 13.3 % for Comboni JHS and Toklokpo JHS respectively. The highest prevalence occurred in the males between 10-11 years age group. For both sexes, Toklokpo Junior High School recorded higher prevalence of the disease numerically.It is recommended that urgent measure is taken to curb the menace