Abstract
BackgroundSchistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Kenya. Inadequate knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on causative factors are some of the critical factors for the increased prevalence. The study assessed KAP on the control and prevention of schistosomiasis infection in Mwea division, Kirinyaga County-Kenya. Four hundred and sixty five house-hold heads were enrolled in this study by use of simple random sampling technique.MethodsThe study employed an analytical descriptive cross sectional design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A pretested structured questionnaire, Focus Group Discusions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) guides were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and Chi square tests and Fisher’s exact tests were computed where applicable. Data from the FGDs and KIIs were analyzed using NUID.IST NUIRO.6 software.ResultsSignificant associations between knowledge and demographic factors i.e. age (p = 0.011), education level (p = 0.046), were reported. Handwashing after visiting the toilet (p = 0.001), having a toilet facility at home (p = 0.014); raring animals at home (p = 0.031), households being affected by floods (p = 0.005) and frequency of visits to the paddies (p = 0.037) had a significant association with respondents practices and schistosomiasis infection. Further significance was reported on households being affected by floods during the rainy season (p < 0.001), sources of water in a household (p < 0.047) and having a temporary water body in the area (p = 0.024) with increase in schistosomiasis infection. Results revealed that respondents practices were not significantly associated with gender (p = 0.060), marital status (p = 0.71), wearing of protective gear (p = 0.142) and working on the paddies (p = 0.144).ConclusionsThis study reveals that knowledge about the cause, transmission, symptoms and prevention of schistosomiasis among the Mwea population was inadequate, and that this could be a challenging obstacle to the elimination of schistosomiasis in these communities. Due to various dominant risk factors, different control strategies should be designed. Therefore, there is a need for integrated control programme to have a lasting impact on transmission of schistosomiasis infection. Control programs like mass drug administration need to go beyond anti-helminthic treatment and that there is a need of a more comprehensive approach including access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. School and community-based health education is also imperative among these communities to significantly reduce the transmission and morbidity from schistosomiasis.
Highlights
Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Kenya
Despite 7 years of health education interventions using a diversity of communication outlets including radio, television and posters, a previous study in Senegal revealed that 86 % of the respondents stated that they had heard about schistosomiasis, only 30 % had adequate knowledge about the symptoms and modes of transmission of the disease [7]
The majority of the respondents had heard about schistosomiasis, the results showed that awareness about the symptoms, ways of transmission and preventive and control measures among the participants was generally poor
Summary
Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Kenya. Inadequate knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on causative factors are some of the critical factors for the increased prevalence. The study assessed KAP on the control and prevention of schistosomiasis infection in Mwea division, Kirinyaga County-Kenya. Millions of school-aged children have received praziquantel against schistosomiasis [2]. Even though it has limitations because older population segments are insufficiently addressed, and new knowledge on prevention and control of schistosomiasis infections is minimal [2]. Prior to the de-worming, baseline prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections were determined through examination of stool samples of class three children (age range 9–14 years). The prevalence of the parasitic infections in the five cohort schools was 38 % for S. mansoni before treatment [4]. Mwea irrigation scheme in Kirinyaga County, where transmissions of schistosomiasis, is relatively high has a prevalence of 47.4 % [3]
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