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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Knowledge attitudes and practices of grade three primary schoolchildren in relation to schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminthiasis and malaria in Zimbabwe
BMC Infectious Diseases, Volume 11, Article 169, Year 2011
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Description
Background: Helminth infection rates in grade three children are used as proxy indicators of community infection status and to guide treatment strategies in endemic areas. However knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of this target age group (8-10 years) in relation to schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminthiasis (STHs) and malaria is not known at a time when integrated plasmodium - helminth control strategies are being advocated. This study sought to assess KAP of grade 3 children in relation to schistosomiasis, STHs and malaria in order to establish an effective school based health education for disease transmission control.Methods: Grade 3 children (n = 172) attending four randomly selected primary schools (one in rural and 3 in the commercial farming areas) in Zimbabwe were interviewed using a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire. The urine filtration technique was used to determine S. haematobium infection status. Infection with S. mansoni and STHs was determined using a combination of results from the Kato Katz and formol ether concentration techniques. P. falciparum was diagnosed by examination of Giemsa stained thick blood smears.Results: It was observed that 32.0%, 19.2% and 4.1% of the respondents had correct knowledge about the causes of schistosomiasis, malaria and STHs, respectively, whilst 22.1%, 19.2% and 5.8% knew correct measures to control schistosomiasis, malaria and STHs. Sixty-two percent and 44.8% did not use soap to wash hands after toilet and before eating food respectively, whilst 33.1% never wore shoes. There were no functional water points and soap for hand washing after toilet at all schools. There was a high prevalence distribution of all parasites investigated in this study at Msapa primary school - S. haematobium (77.8%), S. mansoni (33.3%) hookworms (29.6%) and P. falciparum (48.1%). Reports that participant had suffered from schistosomiasis and malaria before were significant predictors of these diseases (p = 0.001 and p = 0.042, respectively). Report that participant had blood in urine on the day of examination was a significant predictor of schistosomiasis (p = 0.045).Conclusion: There is a critical need for targeting health messages through schools in order to reach the most susceptible schoolchildren. This will empower the schoolchildren with the basic knowledge and skills ultimately protecting them from acquiring schistosomiasis, STHs and malaria. © 2011 Midzi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Midzi, Nicholas
Zimbabwe, Harare
National Institute of Health Research, Harare
Mtapuri-Zinyowera, Sekesai
Zimbabwe, Harare
College of Health Sciences
Mapingure, Munyaradzi Paul
Zimbabwe, Harare
University of Zimbabwe
Paul, Noah H.
Zimbabwe, Harare
University of Zimbabwe
Sangweme, Davison T.
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hlerema, G.
Zimbabwe, Harare
National Institute of Health Research, Harare
Mutsaka, Masceline J.
Zimbabwe, Harare
National Institute of Health Research, Harare
Tongogara, Farisai
Zimbabwe, Harare
National Institute of Health Research, Harare
Makware, Godfrey
Zimbabwe, Harare
Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency Zimstat
Chadukura, Vivian
Zimbabwe, Harare
National Institute of Health Research, Harare
Brouwer, Kimberly C.
United States, La Jolla
University of California, San Diego
Mutapi, Francisca
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Kumar, Nirbhay
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Mduluza, Takafira
Zimbabwe, Harare
University of Zimbabwe
Statistics
Citations: 91
Authors: 14
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2334-11-169
e-ISSN:
14712334
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Zimbabwe