PREVALENCE OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE LOWER RIVER VOLTA BASIN IN GHANA

Background: Schistosomiasis is endemic in 75 countries affecting more than 200 million people mostly those living in rural and agricultural areas near the water reservoirs. The objective of this study was to determine the disease prevalence among school children in five communities in the River Volta Basin in South Eastern Ghana and to determine the age groups most affected.Material Methods: Three hundred eighty-five school children in the primary and the junior classes comprising both males and females were selected randomly to participate in this study. Urine and stool samples were examined for the presence of schistosoma.Results: All the positive subjects fell in two age groups, i.e. 6-11 and 12-17 years. It was realized that these are the two age groups with more affinity for water contact as a result of domestic chores and other auxiliary activities like swimming and fishing related activities. The prevalence of disease in the children of the five study communities was 6%, 21%, 2%, 13.6% and 5.8%. These figures were however lower than an earlier study that gave a range of 66-89.2% in the riparine communities.Conclusion: The prevalence of schistosomiasis in the children in the River Volta basin in South Eastern Ghana ranges from 2-21%. The most vulnerable age groups are 6-11 and 12-17 years