Risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis and its spatial distribution among male children in selected communities in Shinkafi, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Urinary schistosomiasis is a chronic disease caused by Schistosoma haematobium, which is endemic in Nigeria and is attributable to poverty, particularly in resource-constrained populations. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis among male children in Shinkafi, Badarawa, Jangeru, and Katuru Areas of Shinkafi Local Government, Zamfara State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted across the four (4) communities from July to November 2023. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic data of the participants. Five hundred and fifty-one (551) urine samples were collected and examined for the ova of Schistosoma haematobium using the centrifugation technique. The prevalence of the infection in the study communities is 42.8%. Jangeru community had the highest prevalence of 56.6%, then Shinkafi with a prevalence of 47.2%, followed by Badarawa with a prevalence of 36.6%, and Katuru with the lowest prevalence rate of 24.0%. The study confirmed a high prevalence of schistosomiasis in the studied area. The study identified factors such as closeness of the water bodies, age, and history of praziquantel treatment usage as the risk factors for schistosomiasis in the study area. The study suggests that improved environmental sanitation, water control measures, hygiene, implementation of regular mass deworming of infected male children, and public enlightenment should be highly sustained to lower the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in the study area.