Urinary Infections and Urogenital Schistosomiasis in Okigwe School Children, Imo state
Abstract
Onwuka Chigozie Divine
Background and Objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urogenital schistosomiasis remain important causes of morbidity among school- aged children in low-resource settings. However, the relative burden of bacterial and parasitic urinary infections in southeastern Nigeria is not well documented. This study assessed the prevalence of urinary bacterial infections and urogenital schistosomiasis among primary school pupils in Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and December 2024 among 1,092 pupils aged 5–14 years selected using multistage sampling from urban, peri-urban, and rural schools. Midstream urine samples were examined microscopically for Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) ova using sedimentation techniques. Bacteriological analysis was performed using standard culture and biochemical identification methods. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate prevalence, while Chi-square tests assessed associations between UTI prevalence and demographic variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: None of the 1,092 pupils tested positive for S. haematobium ova, indicating a 0.0% prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis. In contrast, 101 pupils (9.3%) had significant bacteriuria. The predominant isolates were Escherichia coli (7.2%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (1.8%) and Proteus species (0.2%). There was no statistically significant difference in UTI prevalence between sexes (p = 0.13), although slightly higher rates were observed among pupils aged ≥10 years.
Conclusion: The absence of S. haematobium suggests a possible interruption of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in the study area. However, the notable burden of bacterial UTIs highlights an ongoing public health concern. There is a need to integrate routine UTI screening into school health programs, alongside sustained improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and continued surveillance for urogenital schistosomiasis to prevent potential resurgence.