Seasonal Pattern and Occurrence of Schistosoma haematobium Egg Excretion among Pregnant Women in Munyenge, South West Region, Cameroon
Godlove Bunda Wepnje *
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Judith Kuoh Anchang-Kimbi
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Leopold Gustave Lehman
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O.Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
Helen Kuokuo Kimbi
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon and Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to describe temperature, precipitation pattern and the occurrence of maternal urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) in Munyenge in 2017.
Study Design: It was a twelve-month cross-sectional study.
Study Site and Duration: The study was carried out in Munyenge from January to December 2017.
Materials and Methods: Volunteer pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic were enrolled consecutively on a monthly basis from January to December 2017. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic data and water contact behaviour. Urine samples were analysed for presence of microhaematuria and/or Schistosoma haematobium ova using filtration method. Monthly land surface temperature (LST) and precipitation were sourced from MODIS and CHIRPS satellite data respectively. Statistical analyses performed were analysis of variance, student t- test and correlation analysis.
Results: The mean annual temperature was 27.18 ± 0.74°C. Monthly temperatures were fairly constant (range: 26.12 to 28.82°C). Precipitation varied greatly (range: 0.26 - 12.75 mm) with a mean of 6.58 ± 4.5mm. A marginal negative correlation (r = -0.586; P = .04) was observed between stream usage and precipitation where stream usage reduced with increase in precipitation. Generally, there was high dependence on the stream as source of water (60.9 - 90.6%) in the study area. Dependency on the stream was associated (r = 0.603; P = .03) with domestic and bathing activities. The annual prevalence of maternal UGS was 24.1% (77/320) with a high occurrence during the rainy season (16.6%; 53/320) than the dry season (7.5%; 24/320) but the difference was not significant (χ2 = 2.26; P = .13). There was no significant difference between months.
Conclusion: Our findings show no seasonal variation in the occurrence of maternal UGS in Munyenge. Transmission of infection may be perennial.
Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium, pregnancy, LST, precipitation, stream contact behaviour, Munyenge.