title: Prevalence and distribution of schistosomiasis in afder and gode zone of somali region, ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no recent information about the prevalence and distribution of schistosomiasis in the Somali national regional state of Ethiopia. Ethiopia launched the national integrated neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) Master Plan in June 2013. The Master Plan identified mapping NTDs as a prerequisite for launching control programs. Therefore it is important to understand the prevalence and distribution of schistosomiasis in respective regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February to March 2011, a cross-sectional survey was done in school-aged children from six districts of Afder Gode zone. Urine samples were collected and examined for ova of Schistosoma haematobium using the sedimentation technique and stool samples were collected and examined for S. mansoni using the Kato-Katz technique. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic characteristics of the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 523 children, 513 (98%) of them participated in the study. The prevalence of S. haematobium was 16.0% (95% confidence interval (CI); 12.8-19.2). The rate of the disease was not uniform across the various six communities studied (x(2) = 208.8, P < 0.0001). Musthail district had the highest prevalence with 64.2% (95% CI; 60.0-68.3) followed by Kelafo with 11.8% (95% CI; 9.0-14.6). No infections of S. mansoni were found in these settings. There was no difference in the prevalence of infection across age groups. Boys were more likely to be infected by S. haematobium than girls (odds ratio = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.1-2.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. haematobium infection is prevalent in the region with varying distribution across the districts. According to the World Health Organization, mass drug administration should be considered in some of the districts.
authors.affiliation: Health System Research Department, Somali Regional Health Bureau, Jijiga, Ethiopia ; Malaria and Other Vector Borne Disease Control Program, Somali Regional Health Bureau, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Nebiyu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Negussu
authors.affiliation: Public Health Emergency Sub Process Unit, Somali Regional Health Bureau, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.affiliation: Malaria and Other Vector Borne Disease Control Program, Somali Regional Health Bureau, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Milion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ejigu
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory, Jijiga Health Science College, Somali region, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Fikiru
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Debebe
authors.affiliation: Disease Prevention Sub Process Unit, Somali Regional Health Bureau, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Sirage
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aden
authors.affiliation: Somali Regional Health Bureau, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.affiliation: Somali Regional Health Bureau, Jijiga, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Department of epidemiology and biostatistics jimma university, jimma Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Amare
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deribew
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom ; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Kebede
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deribe
keywords: S. haematobium; S. mansoni; Schistosomiasis