Browsing by Author "Odongo-Aginya, Emmanuel"

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    Prevalence, infection intensity and associated risk factors of Intestinal Schistosomiasis among primary school Children in Lira District, Northern Uganda
    (Research Square, 2019) Byagamy, John Paul; Malinga, Geoffrey Maxwell; Angwech, Harriet; Opiro, Robert; Echodu, Richard; Odongo-Aginya, Emmanuel
    Abstract Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence, infection intensity and associated risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis among primary school children in Lira district, Uganda. The study was conducted among 532 primary school pupils aged 6-16 years from eight randomly selected primary schools (March-May 2017). Stool samples were collected and examined for schistosomiasis using Odongo-Aginya method. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors were obtained using questionnaires. Results: The overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni was 35.7% indicating a moderate infection. Both males and females were equally affected with S. mansoni . Ogur sub county had highest prevalence (65.0%) than others. Akangi (65.5%) and Akano (64.5%) primary schools both had highest prevalence compared to the others. With regard to risk factors, source of drinking water, sub-county location and primary school were associated with prevalence of infection whereas only school location and home distance to water source was associated with intensity. Participants who fetch water from spring, dam and wells had higher infection than those who fetch from boreholes. The study recommends provision of safe water, periodic treatment of school-aged children with praziquantel and public health education to reduce prevalence of S. mansoni