Die beheer van urinêre skistosoominfeksie in mense in 'n geselekteerde nedersetting in die Limpopo Provinsie van Suid-Afrika deur die gebruik van gesondheidsopvoeding

Abstract

Health education was implemented as a means of control of urinary schistosomiasis in this study. Pupils in the four to nine and 10 to 14 year age-groups respectively received information regarding the disease by means of a puppet show and a flipchart. The success of these education programmes was measured by the possible increase in knowledge attained with regard to the control of schistosomiasis as well as the possible decrease in the prevalence and intensity of infection. These results were compared with that obtained from control groups who did not receive any health education. Microscopic analyses were done of urine samples collected between 10:00 and 14:00 from male and female individuals in each of the two age groups at specific time intervals over a period of two years. The health education programme was administered and evaluated by means of questionnaires during the same period. The following conclusions were drawn from the results of the questionnaire and the parasitological analyses: The implementation of a health education programme resulted in an increase in knowledge regarding schistosomiasis in both the four to nine and 10 to 14 years age groups. Only female individuals in the four to nine years age group (group 1) exhibited a prevalence of 0 for a period of 50 weeks after initial chemotherapy. Prevalence of infection in all the other groups increased by a small margin over a shorter period of time. The individuals in control groups, who received no education, exhibited markedly higher prevalence values, in spite of the fact that chemotherapy was administered to individuals in these groups. Both the four to nine and 10 to 14 years age groups showed a decrease in intensity of infection with only a few individuals getting reinfected after initial treatment. Prevalence as well as intensity of infection found in female individuals in the four to nine and 10 to 14 years age groups were generally marginally lower than in male individuals after initial chemotherapy. Females in the four to nine years age group generally exhibited marginally lower prevalence and intensity values than female individuals in the 10 to 14 years age group after initial chemotherapy. The prevalence and intensity of infection declined to such an extent after the implementation of the health education programme, that education, regarding the control of schistosomiasis, can be recommended for all these groups.