Epidemiological study on Schistosoma mansoni infection in Diza area, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Northwest Ethiopia

Schistosomiasis is one of the major medical and public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the establishment of transmission, prevalence and associated risk factors of S.mansoni infection among school children of Diza area, Northwest Ethiopia. School based cross sectional study was conducted from March-April 2016. A total of 260 school children were selected using simple random sampling technique and were screened for S. mansoni using Kato Katz technique. Data related to potential risk factors were gathered through direct interview by using a pretested structured questionnaire. Malacological survey was also carried out to identify snail intermediate hosts. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to examine the association between S. mansoni infection and various risk factors (P-value < 0.5).The overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 27.3% (71) with mean intensity of infection, 264 eggs per gram of feces. More than half (66.20%) had moderate infection intensity. The collected snails were identified as Biomphalariapfeifferi. A significant association was found between S. mansoniinfection and time taken to cover the distance between home and river, swimming habit, practice of river crossing, knowledge about schistosomiasis and its vector (P<0.05). Schistosoma mansoni infection still remains a public health problem in the study area. Therefore, the district health office in collaboration with schools community and other stake holders should work to take measures including mass drug administration, promoting health education and behavioral changes in children towards schistosomiasis.