PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE KOTTO BAROMBI HEALTH AREA, CAMEROON

Objective: To assess the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in school pupilsaged five to sixteen years.Setting: Barombi Kotto Health Area, southwest Cameroon.Design: A cross-sectional study.Subjects: Three hundred and forty seven primary school children.Intervention: All children found to be infected were treated with praziquantel (biltricide).Main outcome measures: The study would be able to provide baseline information on theepidemiology of schistosomiasis which is vital for control strategies.Results: The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium in the study areas was 53.6%,with the highest prevalence of 73.9% recorded in Barombi Kotto village. Children residenton Barombi Kotto island were more significantly infected than those on the peripheralmainland (93.3% versus 46.2%, p < 0.01). Prevalence rate and intensity of infection did notvary significantly (p > 0.05) with sex, class or age of the pupils. The mean egg count variedsignificantly between schools (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Barombi Kotto village was identified as the focus of urinary schistosomiasis,with the highest recorded in children dwelling on the island, the surrounding lake being themain focus of transmission. Focal snail control as an adjunct of chemotherapy and intensivehealth education for the local population are strongly recommended as a means of reducingthe high infection rate in the area