title: Epidemiology of schistosomiasis in two high-risk communities of south Cote d'Ivoire with particular emphasis on pre-school-aged children.
abstract: Schistosomiasis control efforts mainly target school-aged children. We studied the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in two high-risk communities in south Côte d'Ivoire, placing particular emphasis on pre-school-aged children. We used a suite of diagnostic techniques, including Kato-Katz, urine filtration, reagent strips, and urine circulating cathodic antigen cassettes. Risk factors for schistosomiasis were determined by focus group discussions and a structured questionnaire. The prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in the two study villages among the pre-school-aged children (age < 6 years) was 20.9% and 25.0%, whereas several-fold higher prevalences were found in school-aged children (58.7-68.4%) and adolescents/adults (59.5-61.7%). The prevalence of S. haematobium in the three age groups was 5.9-17.3%, 10.9-18.4%, and 3.8-21.3%, respectively. Most participants had light-intensity infections. Mothers' occupations and older siblings play important roles in the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in pre-schoolers. In the current epidemiologic settings, more attention is warranted on pre-school-aged children and adolescents/adults for successful schistosomiasis control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland. jean.coulibaly@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Jean T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.forename: Yves K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: N'Gbesso
authors.forename: Nicaise A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: N'Guessan
authors.forename: Mirko S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utzinger
authors.forename: Eliézer K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: N'Goran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult