Impact of Praziquantel Mass Drug Administration on Schistosomiasis: A Comparison of Prevalence and Risk Factors Between Treated School Aged Children and Untreated Adults in Abuja, Nigeria

Solomon M. Jacob, Sophie Y. Akinbo, Akinola S. Oluwole, Temitope Agbana, Zainab Omoruyi, Michael A. Okungbowa, Jan-Carel Diehl () and Fredrick O. Akinbo
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Solomon M. Jacob: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City 300283, Nigeria
Sophie Y. Akinbo: Department of Molecular Biology Diagnosis, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Akinola S. Oluwole: Sightsavers Country Office, Abuja 900271, Nigeria
Temitope Agbana: AiDx Medical Bv, 2641 KM Pijnacker, The Netherlands
Zainab Omoruyi: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City 300283, Nigeria
Michael A. Okungbowa: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City 300283, Nigeria
Jan-Carel Diehl: Sustainable Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands
Fredrick O. Akinbo: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City 300283, Nigeria

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Introduction: One of the global strategies for the elimination of schistosomiasis is by Mass Drug Administration (MDA) of a single oral dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg) without a prior individual diagnosis, with a target of >75% treatment coverage among school-aged children. This study was conducted to determine the endemicity of schistosomiasis among school-aged children and adults in Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 1370 participants were recruited, which consisted of 667 (48.67%) males and 703 (51.31%) females. Urine and stool specimens were collected from each participant and analyzed using standard procedures. Results: The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 27.5% in this study with Abuja Municipal having the highest prevalence of 49%, while the least (6.1%) was reported in Bwari LAC. The prevalence of schistosomiasis significantly differs ( p < 0.05) between the area councils. The location of communities significantly affected the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Abaji, AMAC, and Gwagwalada LACs ( p < 0.005). The Schistosoma recovered in this study were S. haematobium and S. mansoni . The prevalence of schistosomiasis increased from the baseline of 21.1% to 49% in Gwagwalada LAC. Gender significantly affected the prevalence of schistosomiasis as more males were infected (33.1%) than their female counterparts (22.2%) ( p < 0.05). The prevalence of schistosomiasis was 31% and 23.9% among SAC and adults, respectively. The participants’ activities in the river significantly affected the prevalence of schistosomiasis in this study ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: The clamour for urgent government and non-government intervention through alternate sources of water like boreholes or pipe-borne water, as well as implementing a behavioural change campaign across the communities to prevent the recurrence, are advocated.

Keywords: schistosomiasis; endemicity; school-aged children; praziquantel effect; Abuja (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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