School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting

Dawla HZ Alansi,1 Mohammed AK Mahdy,1 Rashad Abdul-Ghani,1,2 Ahmed A Azazy3 1Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology...

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Main Authors: Alansi DHZ, Mahdy MAK, Abdul-Ghani R, Azazy AA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-01-01
Series:Infection and Drug Resistance
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/school-based-epidemiology-of-schistosoma-haematobium-infection-in-khar-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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author Alansi DHZ
Mahdy MAK
Abdul-Ghani R
Azazy AA
author_facet Alansi DHZ
Mahdy MAK
Abdul-Ghani R
Azazy AA
author_sort Alansi DHZ
collection DOAJ
description Dawla HZ Alansi,1 Mohammed AK Mahdy,1 Rashad Abdul-Ghani,1,2 Ahmed A Azazy3 1Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rashad Abdul-Ghani, Email rashadqb@yahoo.comBackground: Urogenital schistosomiasis is a persistent public health problem in many rural areas of Yemen. Since 2014, Schistosoma haematobium epidemiology has not been assessed in Amran governorate, north of Yemen, where S. haematobium is known to be highly endemic. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with S. haematobium infection among schoolchildren in Kharif district of the governorate.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 529 schoolchildren aged 7 to 15 years in Kharif district. Data on children’s demographics, clinical features, behaviors, and infection-related environmental factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. The urine filtration technique was used to detect and count S. haematobium eggs, and chemical reagent strips were used to detect microhematuria. The number of eggs per 10 mL of urine (EP10mL) was used to estimate the intensity of infection, which was classified as light (≤ 50 EP10mL) or heavy (> 50 EP10mL). Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of infection.Results: Light-intensity S. haematobium infection was prevalent among 34.8% of schoolchildren in Kharif district, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 30.7 to 38.8. Infection was significantly associated with microhematuria (P < 0.001) and self-reported dysuria (P = 0.003). Family ownership of agricultural land was significantly associated with S. haematobium infection among schoolchildren [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.10– 3.17; P = 0.030], which was further identified as an independent predictor of infection (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.21– 3.95; P = 0.010).Conclusion: A considerable proportion of schoolchildren in Kharif district have light-intensity S. haematobium infections, mostly presenting with microhematuria and self-reported dysuria. The district’s level of risk should be updated to moderate. Consequently, the chemopreventive strategy needs to be revisited to treat all school-age children biennially, regardless of enrollment status.Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium, prevalence, risk factors, schoolchildren, Yemen
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spelling doaj-art-eaeba877f8894030be09e0c9fa03a4822025-08-20T02:35:16ZengDove Medical PressInfection and Drug Resistance1178-69732025-01-01Volume 1816117099065School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy RevisitingAlansi DHZMahdy MAKAbdul-Ghani RAzazy AADawla HZ Alansi,1 Mohammed AK Mahdy,1 Rashad Abdul-Ghani,1,2 Ahmed A Azazy3 1Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rashad Abdul-Ghani, Email rashadqb@yahoo.comBackground: Urogenital schistosomiasis is a persistent public health problem in many rural areas of Yemen. Since 2014, Schistosoma haematobium epidemiology has not been assessed in Amran governorate, north of Yemen, where S. haematobium is known to be highly endemic. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with S. haematobium infection among schoolchildren in Kharif district of the governorate.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 529 schoolchildren aged 7 to 15 years in Kharif district. Data on children’s demographics, clinical features, behaviors, and infection-related environmental factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. The urine filtration technique was used to detect and count S. haematobium eggs, and chemical reagent strips were used to detect microhematuria. The number of eggs per 10 mL of urine (EP10mL) was used to estimate the intensity of infection, which was classified as light (≤ 50 EP10mL) or heavy (> 50 EP10mL). Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of infection.Results: Light-intensity S. haematobium infection was prevalent among 34.8% of schoolchildren in Kharif district, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 30.7 to 38.8. Infection was significantly associated with microhematuria (P < 0.001) and self-reported dysuria (P = 0.003). Family ownership of agricultural land was significantly associated with S. haematobium infection among schoolchildren [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.10– 3.17; P = 0.030], which was further identified as an independent predictor of infection (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.21– 3.95; P = 0.010).Conclusion: A considerable proportion of schoolchildren in Kharif district have light-intensity S. haematobium infections, mostly presenting with microhematuria and self-reported dysuria. The district’s level of risk should be updated to moderate. Consequently, the chemopreventive strategy needs to be revisited to treat all school-age children biennially, regardless of enrollment status.Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium, prevalence, risk factors, schoolchildren, Yemenhttps://www.dovepress.com/school-based-epidemiology-of-schistosoma-haematobium-infection-in-khar-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDRschistosoma haematobiumprevalencerisk factorsschoolchildrenyemen 
spellingShingle Alansi DHZ
Mahdy MAK
Abdul-Ghani R
Azazy AA
School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting
Infection and Drug Resistance
schistosoma haematobium
prevalence
risk factors
schoolchildren
yemen 
title School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting
title_full School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting
title_fullStr School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting
title_full_unstemmed School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting
title_short School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting
title_sort school based epidemiology of schistosoma haematobium infection in kharif district of amran governorate north of yemen need for chemopreventive strategy revisiting
topic schistosoma haematobium
prevalence
risk factors
schoolchildren
yemen 
url https://www.dovepress.com/school-based-epidemiology-of-schistosoma-haematobium-infection-in-khar-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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