A STUDY OF SCHISTOSOMA HAEM A TOBIUM AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF UDEGE COMMUNITY IN NASARAWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was conducted from January to May 2009, * Udege Community of Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Using yd Centrifugal Sedimentation Method\ out of the 205 urine of 34 (16.6%) with mean egg count of 59.1 egg/ 10ml of urine were examined. There was significant difference between the studied gender and Schistosoma haematobium intensity (t-test, tc3/ value - 2.83, P <0.05), prevalence of infection of Schistosoma haematobium between gender (P <0.05). Children of age between 6-10 years old recorded the peak prevalence (19.0%). High frequency of visible haematuria was observed in fishing occupation (9.8%). While civil service (2.5%) was the least. There was significant correlation between the prevalence of infection and visible haematuria (r = 0.87, P <0.05). The

• study recommended portable water, good sanitation, health education and accessibility to drug of 0 choice praziquantel at affordable cost.