Awareness Status of Schistosomiasis among School-Aged Students in Two Schools on Pemba Island, Zanzibar: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author:

Liu Yiyun,Hu Wenjun,Saleh Juma,Wang Yuyan,Xue Qingkai,Wu Hongchu,Yang KunORCID,Huang Yuzheng

Abstract

Schistosomiasis elimination has been set as a target in the Neglected Tropical Disease Roadmap of 2021 to 2030. The present study assessed the level of understanding, awareness and behaviors of schistosomiasis among students in Zanzibar and explored the influencing factors as the basis for reliable suggestions for the follow-up policy on schistosomiasis prevention and control. A Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) survey on students’ perceptions of schistosomiasis was conducted on students from grades 4–9 at two selected schools on Pemba, Zanzibar, from May through September in 2021. A total of 217 valid participants responded to the questionnaires. T-test and chi-squared tests were used to examine the association between the dependent and explanatory variables. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the influencing factors of KAP. The findings indicated a lack of knowledge about schistosomiasis among the participants. Although respondents were aware of the risks of infection, they continued to engage in high-risk activities. Age, family size and presence of hematuria were found as contributing factors. Elder students performed better on knowledge (p = 0.02) and attitude (p < 0.01) scores, and students with a smaller family received higher attitude scores (p = 0.04). Practice was significantly correlated with gender (p < 0.01) and hematuria (p < 0.01). Several kinds of health education should be adopted to raise students’ basic knowledge of schistosomiasis. It is also critical to make the community aware regarding schistosomiasis. Future efforts for the prevention and control of schistosomiasis should employ an integrated strategy combining communities with schools to encourage behavioral change.

Funder

Key Project of Jiangsu Health research

Department of Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province

Natural Science Foundation of China

Public Health Research Center of Jiangnan University

Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Reference27 articles.

1. WHO (2021). Ending the Neglect to Attain the Sustainable Development Goals: A Road Map for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021–2030.

2. Schistosomiasis;McManus;Nat. Rev. Dis. Prim.,2018

3. Knopp, S., Mohammed, K.A., Ali, S.M., Khamis, I.S., Ame, S.M., Albonico, M., Gouvras, A., Fenwick, A., Savioli, L., and Colley, D.G. (2012). Study and implementation of urogenital schistosomiasis elimination in Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba islands) using an integrated multidisciplinary approach. BMC Public Health, 12.

4. China-Zanzibar Cooperation Project of Schistosomiasis Control: Study Design;Yang;Sino-African Cooperation for Schistosomiasis Control in Zanzibar,2021

5. A Package of Health Education Materials: Effectiveness for Schistosomiasis Control in Zanzibar;Mehlhorn;Sino-African Cooperation for Schistosomiasis Control in Zanzibar,2021

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3