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 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