Abstract
Over the several decades, China has been incessantly optimizing control strategies in response to the varying epidemic situations of schistosomiasis. We evaluated continuously the changing prevalence under different control strategies of two villages, Sanlian and Guifan, in China through five phases lasting 37 years. We tested residents, calculated prevalence and discussed change causes. We found the prevalence in Sanlian did not differ significant from that of Guifan (p = 0.18) in 1981, but decreased to 2.66%, much lower than Guifan’s 11.25%, in 1984 (p = 0). Besides, prevalence in Guifan increased to 21.25% in 1987, while in Sanlian it rose to 20.78% until 1989. Those data confirmed that praziquantel combined with snail control could better reduce the prevalence. From 1992 to 1994, the prevalence in the two villages displayed downtrends, which showed the World Bank Loan Project worked. From 1995 to 2004, repeated oscillations with no obvious change trend was seen. Since 2005, the prevalence in both villages has shown a significant downtrend (p < 0.05), which suggests the integrated strategy is effective. We considered the control strategies were implemented suitably in the study area under changing social circumstances. Adjusting the strategy in consideration of social transformations is necessary and vital. The experience may be useful for policy making of other epidemic areas with an analogous situation.
Highlights
The archeological discovery of Schistosoma eggs in a corpse in the Changsha Mawangdui Han tomb in Hunan Province revealed that schistosomiasis has been prevalent in China for over 2000 years
Its humid subtropical monsoon climate has annual average temperatures of 16 degrees Celsius and annual average rainfall of 1600 mm. This provides a suitable environment for the survival of Schistosoma japonicum
With the intervention measures of human chemotherapy and snail control in Sanlian village, the prevalence dropped to 2.66% in 1984, while in chemotherapy and snail control in Sanlian village, the prevalence dropped to 2.66% in 1984, while in Guifan village with chemotherapy only, the prevalence was only reduced to 11.25% (χ22 = 41.576, p = 0)
Summary
The study was conducted in a marshland area including Sanlian village The study was conducted in a marshland area including Sanlian village (30.642447, 117.346828 and and Guifan village (30.574982, 117.410960), in Guichi district, Anhui Province, which is located in the Guifan village (30.574982, 117.410960), in Guichi district, Anhui Province, which is located in the middle middle and lowerreaches reaches of Yangtze the Yangtze Riverthe. The largest river in China (Figure 1). There are many small hills full of swamps, ponds and ditches in Guichi. This feature makes Guichi a typical schistosomiasis epidemic area. Guifan Village: People with a positive stool examination result should receive drug chemotherapy. People with positive result of stool examination should receive drug chemotherapy.
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