title: Prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection among schoolchildren in remote areas devoid of sanitation in northwestern Swaziland, Southern Africa.
abstract: A parasitological survey of Schistosoma haematobium infection among primary schoolchildren in the remote areas of Hhohho and Manzini Provinces in northwestern Swaziland was undertaken. Presence of infection in subjects was confirmed on detection of S. haematobium ova in urine or the presence of hematuria. The intensity of the infection was estimated by calculating the total number of S. haematobium ova present in a 10-ml urine specimen and was expressed in terms of geometric mean intensity (GMI). The prevalence of S. haematobium infection in these populations was 5.3% (21/395) with a GMI of 46.5. Boys had higher prevalence (7.1%, 13/182) and GMI (50.4) than girls (3.8%, 8/213; 40.0) did (P>0.05). Geographically, the prevalence in Manzini schoolchildren (14.6%, 12/82) was significantly higher than that in Hhohho schoolchildren (2.9%, 9/313; P<0.001); however, Hhohho schoolchildren had a higher GMI (70.2) than that observed in Manzini schoolchildren (21.9). Children from schools located in Lowveld had a significantly higher prevalence (11.4%, 19/166) than that in children from schools located in Highveld (0.6%, 1/162) (P<0.0001).
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Hosea
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sukati
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nara
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsubouchi
authors.forename: Chia-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Jiun-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.forename: Ying-Chieh
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Peter Wu-Shou
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wen-Ta
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yao-Hsien
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chia-Kwung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D013541:Eswatini / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006417:Hematuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000652:urine; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014556:Urine / Q000469:parasitology*