Abstract:
Schistosoma haematobium infections are well established and endemic in Ghana. The endemicity of the disease also shows a focal distribution, with communities along fresh surface water bodies being the most affected. The impact of these water bodies in communities with respect to the problem of urinary schistosomiasis infection and its effect on immunoepidemiological parameters has not been explored. This study therefore seeks to profile the immunohaematological epidemiology of S. haematobium in the Adansi South District. The study employed a cross-sectional study design and recruited 406 participants from five communities in the district. Urine and stool samples were collected from participants for microscopy, immunological and haematological analysis. A questionnaire was also administered to participants to determine the sociodemographic and risk factors for urinary schistosomiasis. The study showed an overall prevalence of 16.3% of S. haematobium infections. Owusukrom had the highest prevalence of 37.0%, while Menang had the lowest prevalence of 1.1%. There was no significant difference in either IgG or IgM levels nor in haematological paramters in either the infected or uninfected controls. Major risk factors associated with infection included contact with freshwater bodies, poor hand and personal hygiene, history of infection, farming activities in waterlogged areas and the use of river/surface water sources for domestic activities. Conclusively, the prevalence of S. haematobium infections in the Adansi South District is high and the immunohaematological parameters associated with it are widely varied across individuals.
