Socio-cultural and environmental determinants of a proposed schistosomiasis health education intervention in Eggua, Nigeria
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Date
2019-08-29
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Abstract
Background: Central to the utility of health education in the control of schistosomiasis is
an understanding of the way a community perceives, understands, and can explain how
schistosomiasis occurs among them.
Methods: In order to study the environmental, social, and cultural determinants of
continued schistosomiasis prevalence in Eggua, we administered semi-structured
questionnaires to 372 adults between November 2012 and December 2015 which
asked about the perceptions, understanding of the community and the patterns of
schistosomiasis.
Results: The respondents’ ages ranged from 35 to above 60 years. 44.7% had no schooling
and 39.6% had at least primary education. 48.4% were farmers, 29.8% traders, and 1.6%
fisher-folk. Majority (79%, 95% CI 76.5–83.0) were of a Christian denomination where
members spend long periods in the river praying. Water contact was frequent with
89.5% visiting the rivers daily. Despite the research surveys taking place in Yewa since
2009, 81.5% of respondents did not know the cause of blood in urine, and self-reported
hematuria was low, 4.6%. Latrine use was negligible, up to 95% of respondents did not
have a latrine. Those who had heard about schistosomiasis were not well educated on
prevention methods; 89.5% did not know they could be re-infected after the treatment.
Conclusion: Formal Health Education initiatives which consider these findings should be
designed for the control of schistosomiasis in Eggua.
Description
Staff Pblication
Keywords
Culture;, Eggua;, environment;, health education;, schistosomiasis;, social