Abstract

This study aimed to assess the epidemiology of urinary schistosomiasis in freshwater swamp forest and lowland rainforest of Delta North agricultural zone. A cross-sectional study, conducted from July 2019 to December 2021, among 24,615 participants in some farming communities under treatment coverage detected infection using microscopy, microhaematuria and urine turbidity. Additionally, this study compared the efficacy of some diagnostic tests in diagnosing infections in 120 urine samples. Overall prevalence was 8.5% of which freshwater swamp forest had 7.3% and lowland rainforest 1.2%. Freshwater swamp forest participants had approximately three times the likelihood of developing schistosomiasis (OR ≈ 3) compared to lowland rainforest, using microscopy, microhaematuria and urine turbidity as diagnostic indicators. Age group 0-9 years had the highest prevalence (14.8%) followed by 10-19 years (12.7%). Males had significantly higher prevalence than females (P < 0.05) and adolescent males 10-19 years had higher odds ratio than their female counterparts, compared to males and females 0-9 years because adolescent females were less likely to play in water due to puberty. Analysis of diagnostic tests showed that PCR had the highest prevalence (35.0%) with no false negative result. These findings showed that schistosomiasis is an indicator of socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, and requires sensitive monitoring tools to effectively identify hotbeds for strategic intervention