Prevalence, pattern and determinants of urine abnormalities among school pupils in a semi-urban community

ABSTRACT

Background:Dipstickurinalysis is a semi-quantitative examination of the urine, whichcan be utilized as a screening and diagnostic tool in children. It is rapid, sensitive, easy to perform and affordable for the resource-poor environment.Objectives:Todescribe the pattern of urinalysis findings using urinary dipsticks and the determinants of urine abnormality among pupils in primary schools in a semi-urban area.Methods:Apparently healthy 387 pupils were recruited from 10 public and 5 private primary schools in IkenneLocal Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeriausing multi-stage and proportionate sampling techniques. Data on demography, nutritional status and urinary examination were obtained using Interviewer-administered questionnaires, clinical examination and dipstick urinalysis respectively. Results:Dipstick urinalysis revealed the following; urine pH and specific gravity were normal in 98.2% and 100.0% of the pupils respectively. Protein, leukocyteesterase, nitrite, bilirubin, urobilinogen, blood and ketones were detected in 18.1%, 15.8%, 14.2%, 3.3%, 2.1%, 0.8%, and 0.5% respectively. Glucose and ascorbic acid were generally absent in the urinesamples. Female gender significantlycontributed to the pattern of urinalysis(leukocyteesterase and nitrites).Proteinuria was most frequent among the underweight (38/70;54.3%). Urine abnormalities were more prevalent among pupils in public schools compared with private schools though not statistically significant, and not influenced by gender.Conclusion:Asymptomatic proteinuria and urinary tract infection are not uncommon among children. Female gender and socio-economic status play a role in the incidence of the conditions