Prevalence of schistosomiasis in al-baha province, saudi arabia in years 2012 and 2013 [prospective and comparative study]

ABSTRACT

The rate of human schistosomiasis increased in Al- Baha Province, Saudi Arabia in the last few years. So, it was necessary to study the prevalence of human schistosomiasis in AI-Baha Province over the period of the two years [2012-2013].In general, there was a decline in the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Al- Baha over the study period and it was significantly less in 2013 than it was in 2012. Schistosomiasis infection rate was affected by host sex as males had higher infection rate than females. Age group of 15-44 showed the highest infection rate. Prevalence of schistosomiasis in Saudi people was significantly higher than it was in non-Saudi or immigrant ones. Thus, more attention should be paid to AI-Baha area in the future schistosome control programmes