Barriers and misconceptions hindering reduction of intestinal schistosomiasis in Mbita Sub-County, Western Kenya.

Autor: Cheruiyot NB; Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NUITM): Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Project, P O Box 19993-00202, Nairobi, Kenya., Nagi S; Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-Machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0054, Japan. nagi.sachiyo@twmu.ac.jp.; Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. nagi.sachiyo@twmu.ac.jp., Chadeka AE; Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NUITM): Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Project, P O Box 19993-00202, Nairobi, Kenya., Takeuchi R; Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NUITM): Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Project, P O Box 19993-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.; Graduate School of Public Health, International University of Health and Welfare, 4-3, Kodunomori, Narita, Chiba, 286-8686, Japan., Sassa M; Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.; Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan., Felix B; Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NUITM): Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Project, P O Box 19993-00202, Nairobi, Kenya., Kobayashi N; Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan., Moriyasu T; Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan., Masaku J; Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya., Okomo G; Department of Health Services, County Government of Homa Bay, Homa Bay, Kenya., Ouma C; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, Kisumu, Kenya., Njomo D; Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya., Njenga SM; Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya., Hamano S; Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NUITM): Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Project, P O Box 19993-00202, Nairobi, Kenya. shinjiro@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.; Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. shinjiro@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Tropical medicine and health [Trop Med Health] 2024 May 14; Vol. 52 (1), pp. 38. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 14.
DOI: 10.1186/s41182-024-00602-7
Abstrakt: Background: Community and individual participation are crucial for the success of schistosomiasis control. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the importance of enhanced sanitation, health education, and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) in the fight against schistosomiasis. These approaches rely on the knowledge and practices of the community to be successful; however, where the community knowledge is low and inappropriate, it hinders intervention efforts. Hence, it is essential to identify barriers and misconceptions related to awareness of schistosomiasis, sources of infection, mode of transmission, symptoms, and control measures.
Methods: This was a mixed-method cross-sectional study involving 1200 pre-school children randomly selected and examined for Schistosoma mansoni infection using the Kato-Katz technique. All parents/guardians of selected children were enrolled for a pre-tested questionnaire survey, while 42 were engaged in focus group discussions (FGDs). The level of knowledge and awareness among parents/guardians about schistosomiasis was evaluated in relation to the infection status of their pre-school children.
Results: Among pre-school children, the prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis was 45.1% (95% CI 41.7-48.5). A majority of parents/guardians (85.5%) had heard about schistosomiasis, and this awareness was associated with the participant's level of education (OR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.08, 0.34). In addition, a positive association was observed between higher educational attainment and knowledge of the causative agent (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.49, 0.96). Low education level was significantly associated with limited knowledge of transmission through lake water contact (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.52, 0.97) and infection from the lake (OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.19, 0.57). Notably, parents/guardians who have heard of schistosomiasis could not recognize symptoms of S. mansoni infection, such as abdominal pain (91.8%, 815/888) and blood in the stool (85.1%, 756/888). Surprisingly, 49.8% (442/888) incorrectly identified hematuria (blood in urine), a key sign of S. haematobium, but not S. mansoni, in an endemic area for S. mansoni infection. The majority (82.6%, 734/888) of parents/guardians were unaware that dams are potential infection sites, despite 53.9% (479/888) of their pre-school-aged children testing positive for schistosome infection.
Conclusions: Despite the high level of awareness of intestinal schistosomiasis in the study area, we identified a low level of knowledge regarding its causes, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms and potential sites of transmission within the community. This study emphasizes the need for targeted educational interventions to address the misconceptions and knowledge gaps surrounding intestinal schistosomiasis through tailored community-based programs.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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