Human behaviour, water usage and schistosomiasis transmission in a small settlement near Yola, Nigeria.
A study of the social, environmental and parasitological factors involved in the transmission of schistosomiasis among 1834 residents of a small settlement within an agricultural establishment near Yola, Nigeria, was carried out between June 1991 and May 1992. Water-contact rates and the prevalences of urinary schistosomiasis and intestinal schistosomiasis (40.0% of all contacts, 98% and 79%, respectively) were highest among children of 5-12 years, who were also the major contributors to the contamination of the Lake Geriyo environment with faeces and urine. The frequency and duration of water contact followed a seasonal pattern and seemed to be influenced by physiological and social needs such as defecation, urination and avoidance of harsh weather conditions. The interplay between a need for water contact, sanitation, freshwater snails and a supportive environment ensures a recycling of parasites within the studied community. This, in turn, helps to maintain a parasite bank from which infection is probably spread to other areas of the state. The present study is part of a series, on the dynamics of schistosomiasis transmission, which began with a study of the ecology of the freshwater snails in the same area.
Akogun
O B
OB
Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.
Akogun
M K
MK
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012423:Rural Health; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014554:Urination; D014867:Water; D014876:Water Pollution
D014867:Water