Geo-Spatial Epidemiological Study of Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis in Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas, Plateau State, Nigeria (Published)
Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) continue to pose considerable public health issues in Nigeria, especially in rural areas where access to clean water and sanitation is limited. Plateau State faces ongoing transmission challenges due to its intricate hydrological system and agricultural methods. This research evaluated the prevalence, intensity, and risk factors associated with Schistosomiasis and STH infections in the Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out involving 600 participants (300 from each LGA). Stool samples were examined using the Kato-Katz method for STH, while urine samples were analyzed by filtration for Schistosoma haematobium. A semi-structured questionnaire was utilized to gather demographic, behavioral, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) information. Environmental risk factors were evaluated using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing data to model the susceptibility to Schistosomiasis and STH. In Barkin Ladi (Ban community), no cases of schistosomiasis were found (0% prevalence), whereas the prevalence of STH was 8.0%. In the Bassa (Khian) community, the prevalence of Schistosomiasis was 2.66% (S. haematobium: 1.67%; S. mansoni: 1.00%), and the prevalence of STH was 10.66%. The highest infection rates for both diseases were observed in the 11–20 years age group, with males exhibiting a higher prevalence than females. The geospatial vulnerability mapping revealed that Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) was the most critical factor for schistosomiasis (weight: 0.402), while soil moisture was the primary determinant for STH (weight: 0.256). The study confirms the spatial variability in the transmission of Schistosomiasis and STH, affirming the predictive capability of geospatial models. There is an urgent requirement for targeted, risk-stratified interventions, including mass drug administration, improvements in WASH, and health education aimed at school-aged children and young adults.
Keywords: Epidemiology, Nigeria, Plateau State, geospatial modeling, neglected tropical diseases, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis