Operational Granular Assesment of Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among School Age Children in Ekiti State South West Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Operational assessment of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis
(STH) treatment programs is a critical step in understanding the real-time progress in the
mass administration of medicine in target areas. It also provides scientific insight into
where at-risk populations live in order to effectively plan and target available resources
and to achieve maximum impact on disease burden.

Methodology: This schistosomiasis and STHs granular operational assessment was
conducted in 16 Local Government Areas (LGA) Ekiti State between October & November
2023. Samples were collected in 166 wards/communities covering 166 schools.
Urine and stool samples were collected from 7670 pupils between 5 and 18 years,
comprising 3823 (49.8%) males and 3847 (50.1%) females. The highest number of
participants (658 children) was recorded in Ado Ekiti State LGA. Emure recorded the
lowest number of participants with 320 children across 9 out of 10 wards in the LGA.
The result of this operational assessment was compared to the baseline prevalence and
the rounds of total/effective Mass Drug Administration (MDAs) administered in the state.

Results: 58 (0.76%) out of 7670 pupils were infected with Schistosomia haematobium. No
Schistosoma mansoni infection was detected in any of the 7670 analyzed samples.
296 (3.86%) of the examined samples were infected with STHs.
In the 16 LGA accessed, Ekiti west had the highest S. haematobium prevalence of 4.26%.
Ise/Orun and Oye ranked 2nd and 3rd with a prevalence of 3.48% & 2.40% respectively.
Lowest prevalence levels of S. haematobium were recorded in Efon, Ekiti-East, Ekiti South-
west, Ido/Osi & Mobi with a 0% prevalence level.
The prevalence of STHs was highest in Ekiti-West with a prevalence of 10.45%. Gbonyin &
Isle/Orun had the prevalence of 9.62% & 8.9% respectively, making them 2nd and 3rd in
ranking accordingly. Emure, Ikole and Irepodun Local Governments had the lowest
prevalence of 0.31%, 0.38% & 1.01% respectively.

Conclusion:There is a sharp decline in the prevalence of S. haematobium & STHs in the
state across the 16 LGAs as compared to the baseline prevalence obtained from the
Federal Ministry of Health NTD program.
Our assessment demonstrates that 6 of the 16 LGAs can be classified as non-endemic for
S. haematobium. Seven LGA’s with computed prevalence of <1 were categorized as
requiring surveillance. The remaining 3 LGA’s would require at least one round of MDA
every 2/3 years based on the WHO decision algorithm.
The prevalence of STHs has significantly reduced across the 16 LGAs. Comparative analysis
of the computed and baseline prevalence shows that 6 LGA are not endemic according to
WHO Decision Program. Two of the assessed LGA require one round of MDA yearly and 8
LGA need one round of MDA every two to three years.