Impact of Health Education on Knowledge and Practices of Urinary Schistosomiasis amongst Children in Martin Village

Abstract

Schistosomiasis affects over 600 million people and it is endemic in 74 African countries. The morbidity in Nigeria is put at about 1.7 million DALYS yearly. Children have the highest risk of infection due to poor knowledge and practices that enhance the spread of the infection. In endemic communities different control strategies have been adopted which include drug treatment, health education, and elimination of the intermediate host or a combination of these.
The aim of the study was to determine the impact of health education on the knowledge and practices about urinary Schistosomiasis.
Pre-tested, interviewer questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic features, knowledge and practices from 411 respondents selected by multistage sampling technique. Health education messages were given through lectures. Twelve weeks after, the knowledge and practice were re-assessed. Data was analyzed using Epi info computer software programme.
Knowledge of the respondents about urinary Schistosomiasis was very low at baseline (13.9%), but improved significantly after health education to 38.0%, p < 0.001. The major practices of the respondents that influence the transmission of infection, which included swimming and fetching water from the stream, indiscriminate urination and walking bare-footed, did not change significantly (P > 0.05) after health education.
The knowledge of the subjects improved markedly after health education (P < 0.001). The study therefore demonstrated that health education can improve the level of knowledge about urinary Schistosomiasis.


The Journal of Medicine in the Tropics Vol. 9 (1) 2007: pp. 21-28