Healthcare Workers’ Low Knowledge of Female Genital Schistosomiasis and Proposed Interventions to Prevent, Control, and Manage the Disease in Zanzibar

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to explore healthcare workers’ knowledge of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and describe proposed interventions to raise awareness about FGS and strengthen healthcare facilities’ capacity to manage FGS cases.Methods: We conducted four cross-sectional focus group discussions and 16 key informant interviews with purposively selected healthcare workers in Zanzibar. Discussions and interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo software.Results: Most participants had limited or no knowledge of FGS and lacked skills for managing it. They confused FGS with urogenital schistosomiasis and thought it was sexually transmitted. A few participants knew about FGS and associated it with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, and infertility. To prevent and control FGS, participants proposed interventions targeting communities (including community-based health education) and the healthcare system (including training healthcare workers on FGS).Conclusion: Healthcare workers lacked knowledge of and skills for managing FGS. Besides, healthcare facilities had no diagnostic capacity to manage FGS. Along with on-going interventions to break S. haematobium transmission and eventually eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis in Zanzibar, we recommend training healthcare workers on FGS and equip healthcare facilities with medical equipment and supplies for managing FGS.