Official Publication of Direct Research Journal of Public Health and Environmental Technology: Vol. 9, 2024, ISSN: 2734-2182 Direct Research Journal of Public Healthand Environmental Technology Vol.9 (1), Pp. 11-18, February 2024 ISSN:2734-2182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26765/DRJPHET17461647 Article Number: DRJPHET17461647 Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article https://journals.directresearchpublisher.org/index.php/drjphet Prevalence of female genital schistosomiasis among fishing communities in north central Nigeria Abovegodwin, G. O.*, Badaki, J. A., Ngwamah, J. S., Atawodi, J.C., and Umar, V. Department of Zoology, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author email:valeriewhite887@gmail.com Received 7 January 2024; Accepted 17 February 2024; Published 22 February 2024 ABSTRACT: Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is an emerging public health concern linked to Schistosoma haematobium infection acquired through skin contact with contaminated freshwater. This study assessed the prevalence of Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) in three fishing communities; Echewu, Gbobe, and Shintakwu in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA), Kogi State. The prevalence of FGS infection was generally high across the three communities Echewu (12.3%), Gbobe (9.6%) and Shintakwu (16.4%). FGS self-reported symptoms included blood in urine, vaginal discharge, genital itching, and painful intercourse. Participants aged 14–19 years had the highest occurrence of blood in urine (9.5%), while those aged 20–49 years had the highest occurrence of genital itching (8.2%) and 10.9% of the participants in the latter age group also reported the highest occurrence of painful intercourse. Risk factors identified were water contact and proximity to water bodies. Fifty-seven per cent (57.2%) of infected individuals lived ≤ 100m from rivers, while 42.8% lived farther away. Among water activities, washing and swimming carried the highest FGS infection risks, at 39.2% and 25.0% respectively.The most frequently identified pathologies of FGS were vaginal discharge (21.2%), pre-contact bleeding (17.8%), rubbery papules (1.3%), grainy sandy patches (4%), and abnormal blood vessels (8.2%). Vaginal discharge and abnormal blood vessels were significantly recorded across all age categories. The findings reveal FGS prevalence in the study area, emphasizing the necessity for routine Praziquantel treatment among school-aged children, adolescent girls, and reproductive-age women in Bassa LGA. Additionally, enhancing access to affordable diagnostic services is crucial for early detection and proper management of FGS. Keywords: Schistosomiasis, female genital schistosomiasis, prevalence, bassa, north central Citation: Abovegodwin, G. O., Badaki, J. A., Ngwamah, J. S., Atawodi, J.C., and Umar, V. (2024). Prevalence of female genital schistosomiasis among fishing communities in north central Nigeria. Direct Res. J. Public Health and Environ. Technol. Vol. 9(1), Pp. 11-18. https://doi.org/10.26765/DRJPHET17461647. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0. INTRODUCTION Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is an emerging public health gynecological manifestation of Schistosoma haematobium infection that is acquired by skin contact with freshwater contaminated with schistosomecerceriae. It is usually characterized by the deposition of schistosome eggs in the genital tract of adolescent girls and women (Nour, 2010; Kjetland et al., 2012; Hotez et al., 2019). Due to the nature of the signs and symptoms of FGS, women tend to approach health services with complaints of infertility or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (WHO, 2015). Health-care professionals are generally unaware of FGS because it is not described in the medical textbooks or nursing curricula in any of the countries where schistosomiasis is endemic (WHO, 2015). Hence, laboratory diagnostics are inadequate (WHO, 2015). Therefore, for young girls and women of reproductive age living in areas where S. haematobium is endemic, FGS remains highly prevalent and under-diagnosed due to a low index of suspicion among health-care professionals (WHO, 2015). FGS can be present without S. haematobium (WHO, 2015). Female genital Schistosomiasis mostly affects impoverished and rural communities, particularly agricultural and fishing populations. Women performing domestic chores such as washing clothes in cercariae infested water are also at risk of FGS infection (WHO, 2015). FGS usually starts in childhood and can become a chronic debilitating disorder. Women who have been treated with praziquantel at least once before age 20 years are 50% less likely to develop FGS later in life