title: Schistosomiasis infection among primary school students in a war zone, Southern Kordofan State, Sudan: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schistosomiasis is a major health problem adversely affecting the health of vulnerable populations in Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a school-based survey to estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in 36 villages in Southern Kordofan (SK) State. A total of 2,302 primary school students were recruited. Each student completed a questionnaire and submitted one urine and one stool sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of schistosomiasis haematobium was 23.7%, while schistosomiasis mansoni was not detected among the study participants. S. haematobium infection was identified in all areas, with the highest prevalence in the western locality of SK State. The infection was associated with the distance between home/school and open water sources. In addition, S. haematobium infection was associated with the existence of and distance to open water sources, higher frequency of contact with open water, absence of a health advocacy group in the school and history of schistosomiasis treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights schistosomiasis as a public health problem in SK State. The findings will guide the schistosomiasis Control Program of the State Ministry of Health in developing and applying treatment plans for schistosomiasis in SK State.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Kasr Al Ainy St., Cairo, Egypt. abouzeida@scidreco.com
authors.forename: Alaa H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Abou-Zeid
authors.forename: Tigani A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Abkar
authors.forename: Rashid O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014857:Warfare