Conference abstract
Frequent swimming activity and other predisposing factors of urinary Schistosomiasis among the inhabitants of Bambalang village, Ndop Health District
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:17(115).04
Jun 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.17.115.1638
Archived on: 04 Jun 2023
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Keywords: Urinary schistosomiasis, predisposing factors, swimming activities, neglected tropical disease
Poster
Frequent swimming activity and other predisposing factors of urinary Schistosomiasis among the inhabitants of Bambalang village, Ndop Health District
Beri Anny Gariba1,&, Nfor Omarine Nlinwe Epse Njimanted1
1The University of Bamenda, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Department of Public Health, P.O Box 39, Bambili, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Schistosomiasis is the most prevalent among the neglected tropical diseases and surveys carried out over the years by the Ministry of Public Health show that districts surrounding the Ndop Health District in the North West region of Cameroon have been endemic for urinary Schistosomiasis. With increased fishing and rice farming activities in these surrounding districts, community members in the Ndop Health District share common practices and occupations linked to the presence of the Bamendjin dam. Because these practices predispose community members to urinary schistosomiasis, this study was designed to assess the risk of frequent swimming associated with knowledge and practice on urinary schistosomiasis, among the inhabitants of Bambalang village of the Ndop Health district.
This was a cross-sectional community-based household survey involving 10 localities of the Bambalang village. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the swimming activities and knowledge of schistosomiasis of the community members. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and the Chi-Square test. The relative risk, attributable risk, odds ratio, and likelihood ratio of frequent swimming were determined by Chi-Square (and Fisher’s exact) test.
The linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between socio-demographic factors and swimming activity. Up to 29.58% (105/355) of the study participants were frequently involved in swimming activities. Participants within the younger age group (P = 0.0264), with no formal education (P = 0.0474), lower income level (P = 0.0002) and those involved in farming and fishing as an occupation (P < 0.0001) were more prone to frequent swimming activity. Those who had never heard of urinary Schistosomiasis did not know the causes and preventive measures of schistosomiasis and had 2.16, 2.23 and 1.11 times the odds of being involved in frequent swimming activities respectively. Those who frequently urinate in the water had 1.496 times the odds of being involved in frequent swimming activities.
The inhabitants of Bambalang village are frequently involved in swimming activities with a significant predisposition to urinary schistosomiasis. Therefore as part of the effective control strategies of neglected tropical diseases in the North West region of Cameroon, Ndop Health District should be surveyed for parasitic prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis.
Frequent swimming activity and other predisposing factors of urinary Schistosomiasis among the inhabitants of Bambalang village, Ndop Health District
Beri Anny Gariba1,&, Nfor Omarine Nlinwe Epse Njimanted1
1The University of Bamenda, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Department of Public Health, P.O Box 39, Bambili, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Schistosomiasis is the most prevalent among the neglected tropical diseases and surveys carried out over the years by the Ministry of Public Health show that districts surrounding the Ndop Health District in the North West region of Cameroon have been endemic for urinary Schistosomiasis. With increased fishing and rice farming activities in these surrounding districts, community members in the Ndop Health District share common practices and occupations linked to the presence of the Bamendjin dam. Because these practices predispose community members to urinary schistosomiasis, this study was designed to assess the risk of frequent swimming associated with knowledge and practice on urinary schistosomiasis, among the inhabitants of Bambalang village of the Ndop Health district.
This was a cross-sectional community-based household survey involving 10 localities of the Bambalang village. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the swimming activities and knowledge of schistosomiasis of the community members. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and the Chi-Square test. The relative risk, attributable risk, odds ratio, and likelihood ratio of frequent swimming were determined by Chi-Square (and Fisher’s exact) test.
The linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between socio-demographic factors and swimming activity. Up to 29.58% (105/355) of the study participants were frequently involved in swimming activities. Participants within the younger age group (P = 0.0264), with no formal education (P = 0.0474), lower income level (P = 0.0002) and those involved in farming and fishing as an occupation (P < 0.0001) were more prone to frequent swimming activity. Those who had never heard of urinary Schistosomiasis did not know the causes and preventive measures of schistosomiasis and had 2.16, 2.23 and 1.11 times the odds of being involved in frequent swimming activities respectively. Those who frequently urinate in the water had 1.496 times the odds of being involved in frequent swimming activities.
The inhabitants of Bambalang village are frequently involved in swimming activities with a significant predisposition to urinary schistosomiasis. Therefore as part of the effective control strategies of neglected tropical diseases in the North West region of Cameroon, Ndop Health District should be surveyed for parasitic prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis.
