Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Knowledge, attitude and practices in relation to prevention and control of schistosomiasis infection in Mwea Kirinyaga county, Kenya
Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016
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Background
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. Four hundred and sixty five house-hold heads were enrolled
in this study by use of simple random sampling technique.
Methods
The 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.
Results
Significant 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).
Conclusions
This 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.