Knowledge And Community Perspectives On Schistosomiasis In At-Risk Communities In Suna East Constituency, Western Kenya

ABSTRACT

Despite a large body of knowledge on the causes, control measures, and availability of preventive chemotherapy (PCT), more that 650 million people throughout the world remain at risk of schistosomiasis. In Kenya, for example, 6 million people particularly in communities such as Migori that live close to the shores of Lake Victoria are at-risk of the disease. What is missing from previous research is the extent to which at-risk communities are knowledgeable about the disease including its transmission, risks factors, symptoms and availability of PCT for the disease, which is critical for targeted interventions. The goal of the proposed study was to assess knowledge and community perspective on schistosomiasis in at-risk communities in Suna East Constituency, Migori County. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the proportion of the community aware of schistosomiasis; to determine association between socio-demographic factors and knowledge of schistosomiasis and to determine community perspectives on schistosomiasis. A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2019 amongst respondents in Suna East Constituency with a sample size of 398 residents. Random sampling was used to select the wards respectively while respondents were selected through systematic random sampling within each community. Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews guide. Independent t-test and one way ANOVA were used to determine mean differences in knowledge of schistosomiasis between and across socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. Findings show that 39% of respondents reported to have heard of schistosomiasis. Of those who were knowledgeable about the disease, 56% reported to have heard about the disease from schools, 9% from dispensary, 21% from home and 14% from media. There was no significant difference in knowledge across all socio-demographic characteristics; gender (transmission t=-0.1930, P=0.055; prevention t=1.082, p=0.429; symptoms t=0.239, p=0.811; risk factors t=-0.180, p=0.280): age (transmission t=0.117, P=0.907; prevention t=0.777, p=0.438; symptoms t=-0.793, p=0.429; risk factors t=-0.392, p=0.695): education level (transmission: F=1.919, P=0.127; symptoms: F=1.088, P=0.356; prevention: F=0.796, P=0.497; risk factors: F=1.903, P=0.130). Taken together, the study has identified low awareness of schistosomiasis in Suna East Constituency with no significant difference in knowledge of the disease between and across socio-demographic characteristics. These results suggest that there is a lack of information about this neglected tropical disease in the community, which is a concern given efforts such as MDA in schools. Alternatively, the results suggest that the manner in which information about the disease is packaged during health campaigns is not accessible to the community. It is therefore recommended that sensitization and mobilization campaigns are needed to support control and prevention efforts in Suna East Constituency.