SCHOOL CHILDREN

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, with school-aged children at particular risk due to frequent water contact. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium among school children in Usen community, Edo state, Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium among school children and examined its association with demographic and behavioral factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 50 students of Ilawure Grammar School, Usen. Urine samples were collected between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and examined microscopically after centrifugation for Schistosoma haematobium eggs and red blood cells. Demographic and behavioral data were obtained using structured questionnaires and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium was 16.0% (8/50). Infection was higher among males (15.4%) and among older children aged 18–20 years (25.0%), though differences by age and sex were not statistically significant. River/stream contact was significantly associated with infection (24.2%, p = 0.037). Other factors such as urinating in rivers, walking barefoot, and lack of toilet facilities showed higher proportions of infection but were not statistically significant. Children with prior knowledge of water protection practices were significantly less likely to be infected (p = 0.004). The study confirms that urinary schistosomiasis remains endemic in Usen Community. Health education, improved sanitation, safe water provision, and strengthened school-based interventions including mass drug administration are recommended to reduce infection among school-aged children.

This study was to explore the influence of socioeconomic background on the academic performance of school children in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. The research was centered around five key research questions: Does the financial status of parents impact their children's academic performance? What roles do parental education and occupation play in shaping school children's academic achievements? How does the availability of educational resources andc facilities in schools affect the academic performance of students from various socioeconomic backgrounds? Are there disparities in the academic performance of
students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds attending public versus private schools? A descriptive survey research design was employed, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Data was collected using questionnaires, and the analysis involved computing frequencies and simple percentages. The study focused on school children within Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, with a sample size of 80 respondents selected from eight primary schools in the region. Each of the eight chosen primary schools contributed 10 respondents. The research instrument consisted of a questionnaire containing sixteen items. To ensure the reliability of this instrument, a preliminary test was conducted by administering the research questionnaire to a group of individuals with similar characteristics as the research sample, utilizing the split-half method