PREVALENCE OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SELADINGAY TOWN AND ITS SURROUNDING , NORTH SHEWA, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA.

The burden of disease associated with schistosomiasis infections is enormous, with almost
240 million people affected globally, primarily infections occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
The highest rates of infection are often in children between the ages of 7 and 15 years.
However, there is no available documented information on the prevalence of schistosomiasis
infection and associated factors in the present study area. Therefore, this study was designed
to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis and to identify associated risk factors among
primary school children in Seladingay Town and its surrounding of North Shewa Ethiopia.
Across-sectional study was carried out from March to May 2022, including 214 school
children aged 8–17 years. Simple random sampling technique was used to select school
children who participated in the study. Stool samples were collected from school aged
children subjected to detect the presences of eggs of Schistosoma mansoni using microscope
examination. questionnaires were administered to the participating students to collect data on
their interaction of schistosomiasis associated factors.The overall prevalence of Schistosoma
mansoni infection in this study was 25.23%. The prevalence rates of Schistosoma mansoni
among the schools were 11.53, 7.79, 3.43 and 2.49 in Asofe, Fela genet, Begoch gate and
Seladingay respectively. The sex and age specific distribution showed that significantly higher
infection rates were in males (15.88%) and school children aged between 11-14 years
(P=<0.05). In addition, children living in rural area were more likely exposed for
schistosome infection than children living in urban areas (p=0.000). The findings from this
study conclude that repeated water contact activities such as swimming, infected water used
for domestic purpose in open freshwater were the main risk factors (AOR) = 11.873, : 5.864–
24.023, p= 0.001). The findings from this study conclude that Schistosoma mansoni was
present in the study area and the school children should avoid to contact with open
freshwater and also take mass drug administration treatment were recommended.