Factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis in two peri-urban communities in south-western Nigeria

In Nigeria, there is only very limited epidemiological information on which the control of human urinary schistosomiasis could be based. In a cross-sectional study, therefore, the prevalences and intensities of, and risk factors for, human infection with Schistosoma haematobium infection were explored in two endemic peri-urban villages in the south-western state of Osun. The villagers' knowledge about the infection and demographic, socioeconomic and environmental variables were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Of the 1023 individuals who were investigated, 634 (62.0%) were found infected, with a mean (S. D.) overall intensity of 114.2 (327.7) eggs/10 ml urine. The subjects aged 10-14 years had both the highest prevalence (83.6%) and the highest mean (S. D.) intensity of infection [196.67 (411.7) eggs/10 ml urine]. Most (70.0%) of the subjects appeared to have no knowledge of the transmission of S. haematobium. The results of multivariate regression analysis indicated that infection and moderate-heavy infection (i.e. >50 eggs/10 ml urine) were both associated with: a low family income, of