Urinary Schistosomiasis in HIV Infected and Uninfected Women in Three Southern Local Government Areas of Adamawa State

Urinary schistosomiasis is one of the major illnesses in the communities of Shelleng, Numan and Demsa LGAs. This cross-sectional community-based study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in HIV infected and uninfected women between January and July2026.Structured questionnaires wereadministered to obtain socio-demographicdata, including age, educational status and marital status of the participants. A total of 423 urine samples (HIV infected 326, uninfected 97) urine samples were collected in sterile containers, packaged in a specimen box with ice packs, and taken to the Parasitology Laboratory, Zoology Department, Modibbo Adama University. Urine samples were analysed using the sedimentation (centrifugation) technique and examined microscopically to detect ova of Schistosomahaematobium. The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis across the three study areas was 36.0%(153/423). The prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was found to be highest among HIV uninfected women (43.9%) and lowest among the HIV infected women(10.3%) (P≤0.05).High infection burdens were particularly pronounced among HIV-uninfected participants residing in Numan(Bilachi), older adults aged 51 and above, secondary school students, and single individuals. In contrast, HIV-infected participants demonstrated lower overall prevalence, with the highest co-infection rates observed among older individuals, participants in Shelleng, secondary students, and married women. Statistical analysis confirmed that the differences across age, educational status, marital status, and location (Numan, Demsa, and Shelleng) in HIV-uninfected individualsare statistically significant(P<0.05), suggesting that HIV status may be a critical factor influencing the risk or susceptibility to urinary schistosomiasis co-infection, which is supported by distinct immunological mechanisms.