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Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence, infection intensity and associated risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis among primary school children in Lira district, Uganda. The study was conducted among 532 primary school pupils aged 6-16 years from eight randomly selected primary schools (March-May 2017). Stool samples were collected and examined for schistosomiasis using Odongo-Aginya method. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors were obtained using questionnaires. Results: The overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni was 35.7% indicating a moderate infection. Both males and females were equally affected with S. mansoni . Ogur sub county had highest prevalence (42.1%) than others. Akangi and Akano primary schools both had highest (21.1%) prevalence compared to the others. Individuals aged 14-16 and 10-14 years had heavy infections (mean epg) of 600 and 565 eggs, respectively than those aged 6-9 years. With regard to risk factors, source of drinking water, sub-county location and primary school were associated with infection. Participants who fetch water from spring (85,44.7%) had higher infection than those who fetch from other sources. The study recommends provision of safe water, periodic treatment of school-aged children with praziquantel and public health education to reduce prevalence of S. mansoni .

Objective World Health Organisation recommends Kato-Katz technique for quantitative diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni and other soil transmitted intestinal parasites in field research. However, for better visibility especially in hard stool specimens, the prepared slides in Kato-Katz technique are mostly examined after 1-2 hours. This longer clearing time over clear the eggs of parasites with thin cell walls in glycerine and morphology of the eggs are not often preserved in Kato-Katz method. These disadvantages are overcome using Odongo-Aginya method as illustrated by parasite eggs in the results. Result The Odongo-Aginya method uses compound stains of 7.5% nigrosin in 10% formalin and 0.5% eosin yellow in 10% formalin mixed 1:1 ratio. A drop of 50µl of the compound stain is added on 41.7mg of stool and stirred. This method illustrated the morphological appearance of S. mansoni and other soil transmitted intestinal parasites clearly when prepared and six weeks after preparation. The prepared slides maintained the morphological appearance including the eggs of hookworm after being kept in cool dry place for a long time. This method is reliable, reproducible, cost effective, easy to learn, quick and safe because of the base formalin, especially when handling specimens from Human Immunodeficiency virus infected patients.