High levels of @entity14454 among XXXX in Bunuso, a rural community in Ghana: an urgent call for increased surveillance and control programs.

@entity1 @entity14454 @entity281 @entity4114 @entity2040
We investigated the occurrence of @entity14454 and estimated predictors for risk of @entity281 among @entity1 in the Bunuso community of Ashanti Region of Ghana, West Africa. The cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and December 2009. Information was obtained on socio-demographic characteristics, @entity2040 symptoms and other risk factors through interviews and questionnaires. Urine samples were analysed for @entity4114 ova using centrifugation and sedimentation, filtration and microscopy. Bivariate estimations and multiple logistic regression modelling with odds ratios (OR) were used to assess risk factors for @entity4114 infections. Inspections at River Nanakwaw revealed snail vectors, Bulinus truncatus. Overall, 95 out of 100 (95  % confidence interval [CI] 88.8-97.6) @entity1 tested positive for @entity4114 @entity281 . The mean ova density (eggs/10  ml of urine) of infections was 58.12 (95  % CI 31.3-71.6) and varied significantly between age-group distributions (P value  =  0.001; Post Hoc, P  >  0.05 for  <=8 vs 15-17  years, and 9-11 vs 12-14  years), sources of house-hold water (P value  =  0.019; Post Hoc, P  <  0.05 for Borehole vs River Nanakwaw), @entity1 activities in River Nanakwaw (P value  =  0.001), and haematuria (P value  =  0.007). Independent variables significantly associated with @entity4114 infections were the use of River Nanakwaw as source of household water (OR 12.54; 95  % CI 3.932-42.12, P value  =  0.003), engaging activities in River Nanakwaw (OR 8.76; 95  % CI 1.759-31.871; P value  =  0.008) and haematuria (OR 36.71; 95  % CI 10.18-48.47; P value  =  0.001). The passage of blood urine was prognostic of @entity14454 with a positive predictive value of 97.5  %. Our results demonstrate the endemicity of @entity14454 in Bunuso. Schistosomiasis remains a disease of great public health importance in Ghana, and there is the urgent need to intensify surveillance and control programs in remote riparian communities.
