Improved Perceptions and Practices Related to Schistosomiasis and Intestinal Worm Infections Following PHAST Intervention on Kome Island, North-Western Tanzania
Article information
Abstract
Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are widespread diseases of public health importance in Tanzania. A study on perceptions and practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections was undertaken among a community population of Kome Island in Sengerema District, north-western Tanzania, where intestinal schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are endemic. Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm-related perceptions and practices were assessed before and 3 years after implementation of a participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) intervention as a control measure. Data were obtained from baseline and post-intervention knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) questionnaire surveys conducted twice in 2009 and 2012 among 82 individuals aged ≥15 years. We found significant increases in respondents’ knowledge of the cause, transmission, symptoms, health consequences, and prevention of schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections after PHAST intervention. The increase in respondents’ knowledge on almost all aspects of the said infections was translated into actions to control schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections. This has not been achieved by chance, but due to well-designed and locally-adapted PHAST intervention. We conclude that despite criticisms, PHAST approach is still useful in empowering communities to control water, sanitation, and hygiene related infectious diseases such as schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections.
INTRODUCTION
Human helminthiases are of considerable public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Asia, and Latin America [1-7]. Helminths are a broad range of organisms that include intestinal parasitic worms. They are the most common infections worldwide when transmitted by soil, and affect the poorest and most deprived communities. Among the human helminthiases, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are the world’s most serious neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Of the world’s 207 million estimated cases of schistosomiasis, more than 90% occur in SSA, and Tanzania is the second country for having the highest burden of schistosomiasis in SSA, the first being Nigeria [7]. More than 1.5 billion people or 24% of the world’s population are infected with one or more helminth species, with the greatest numbers occurring in SSA, the Americas, and China and East Asia [6]. It is estimated that 198 million people are infected with hookworms, whereas 173 million and 162 million people are infected with Ascaris and Trichuris, respectively [8,9]. In Tanzania, both intestinal and urinary schistosomiases as well as STH infections are endemic particularly in school age children, adolescents, and in fishing communities living along the shores of Lake Victoria [10].
Consequences of chronic infection include suffering, stigmatization, subtle and gross morbidity, and premature death. These infections are associated with low work productivity, poor cognitive performance, and slow socioeconomic development, thereby contributing to accentuate poverty and inequality [6,11].
Despite their insidious effects at the individual and societal levels, schistosomiasis and STH infections and their associated disease sequelae have not received as much research and investment attention as other acute or life-threatening conditions, a fact that has placed them in the category of NTDs. However, since 2004 there has been an increased recognition of the importance of NTDs as impediments to development [12]. The collective morbidity that these diseases cause is considerable and comparable to that caused by malaria, HIV/AIDS, or tuberculosis [11], and they are responsible for excess mortality [13,14].
In recognition of the burden helminth infections impose on human populations, particularly the poor, major intervention programmes have been launched to control them. The Disease Reference Group on Helminth infections (DRG4) established by the special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) in 2009 was given mandate to review helminthiases research and identify research priorities and gaps [15]. However, schistosomiasis and STH infections are widely recognized as diseases that are socially determined, and hence, an understanding of social and behavioral factors linked to their transmission and control should play a vital role in designing policies and strategies for prevention and control [16-18].
A study on perceptions and practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections was conducted among the people in 1 community population of Kome Island, Sengerema District, in North-western Tanzania before and 3 years after implementation of a participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) intervention to control schistosomiasis and STH. The study was undertaken under the auspices of a 5-year programme (2008-2013) entitled ‘Neglected tropical diseases control on Kome Island and the Lake Victoria basin, Tanzania’ funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) through Good Neighbors International (GNI) of the Republic of Korea. The broad objective of this sub-study was to evaluate the impact of PHAST intervention on people’s perceptions and practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worms infections. Specifically, the study aimed at evaluating people’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections at the beginning of the project and 3 years after implementation of locally adapted control interventions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area and population
The study was carried out on Kome Island, one of the islands situated in the south-eastern part of Lake Victoria in Sengerema District in north-western Tanzania between November 2009 and December 2012. The Island lies between 32˚24´ and 32˚34´ east, and 2˚14´ and 2˚25´ south covering a total area of about 290 km2. Kome is the fourth largest Island on Lake Victoria after Ukerewe, Ukara, and Maisome Islands.
The Island is predominantly inhabited by Wazinza ethnic group (a Bantu-speaking people who are the natives of Uzinza. Most of the inhabitants earn their living from peasantry, cultivating mainly cassava, sweet potatoes, maize, and paddy, and livestock keeping mainly cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry, and a few of them undertake fishing. Crop production and livestock keeping are undertaken within the framework of individual households.
Kome Island is divided into 2 administrative wards, namely Nyakasasa and Lugata each with 4 villages. Nyakasasa, Isenyi, Buhama, and Nyamiswi villages belong to Nyakasasa ward, and Lugata, Nyakabanga, Bugolo, and Kabaganga villages belong to Lugata ward. According to the 2002 Population and Housing Census, the island had 5,189 permanent households, apart from fishermen’s settlements; a population of 38,062 with an average population growth rate of 2.9%. The average household size was estimated at 6.6 people [19]. The most recent Population and Housing Census of 2012 put the Island’s population at 47,534 people of which 24,480 are males and 23,054 are females. The average household size is 5.8 [20].
The island is served by 1 health center and 2 dispensaries with chronic shortages of personnel, equipment, and drugs. Lake Victoria is the main source of water for drinking, washing, and other domestic chores. Other sources are natural wells and streams. All occupational, domestic, as well as recreational activities of the people on Kome Island have obvious bearing on acquisition and transmission of schistosomiasis, STH, and other parasitic diseases. However, since 2008 there has been combined control of schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections on Kome Island by GNI in collaboration with National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Mwanza Center, through the following research and intervention activities:
(i) Mass treatment on schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections with praziquantel and albendazole, respectively;
(ii) Provision of pumped wells in each sub-village;
(iii) Community health education on schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections through PHAST strategy.
Study design and sampling
The study design was quasi-experimental based on a pre-/post-intervention comparison (before/after study) and process evaluation, which involved studying 1 community population in which PHAST intervention to control schistosomiasis and STH infections was carried out. The study population was observed before, during, and 3 years after the intervention, to test, explore, and explain the differences taking place as a result of the intervention.
At the core of this study is a health education intervention. The intervention which was introduced to control schistosomes and intestinal worms among the people on Kome Island is known as PHAST, widely regarded as an innovative approach to promote hygiene, sanitation, and community management of water and sanitation facilities. It originated from efforts to control cholera and other diarrheal diseases [21]. The approach attempts to go beyond the teaching of hygiene and sanitation concepts to developing capacity of participants to identify opportunities and overcome obstacles to change generally. PHAST is an approach to health education/promotion that focuses on community participation and capacity development rather than spreading health messages alone but also inducing improved hygiene behavior change. The methodological experience of the PHAST intervention in the control of schistosomiasis in Tanzania has been described elsewhere [18,22].
Study participants were randomly selected from adults aged between 15 years and above for quantitative questionnaire surveys. The same individuals (n=82) were interviewed twice during baseline in November 2009 and post-intervention survey in December 2012.
Methods for data collection
Researcher-administered (face-to-face) KAP questionnaires were used to collect information from the study respondents during baseline and after 3 years of follow-up. Six trained research assistants (3 males and 3 females) with education ranging from secondary to basic university degree were involved in conducting same-sex interviews. The questionnaire contained both closed and open-ended questions on background information, knowledge, and awareness about the cause, mode of transmission, symptoms, health consequences, and preventive practices with regard to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections.
Data management and analysis
Both pre- and post-intervention questionnaire survey data were edited in the field for omissions and/or inconsistencies and entered in the computer by 2 independent data entry clerks using Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro) version 3.3 (US Census Bureau, 2007) computer software for cleaning and validation. Data was then analyzed using STATA version 10.0 computer software (Stata Corp., College Station, Texas, USA). Separate analysis was done per survey rounds (baseline and follow-up) for relevant variables followed by combined analysis of the retained cohort (n=82); in which the proportions between the baseline and follow-up surveys were compared to determine the significance of the difference between them. Frequency tables and cross tabulations were generated. Pearson’s χ2-test was used for statistical analysis.
Ethical considerations
The Tanzanian Medical Research Coordinating Committee provided ethical approval for this study. Study aims and objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits were explained to participants through an information sheet read/provided to them. Adequate informed consent was sought through signature or thumb print on the consent forms. Participants were informed of their rights to refuse to participate and withdraw from the study at any time when they wish to do so during the study with no consequences. Confidentiality and anonymity was assured and ensured to the information gathered from the study participants. Codes were used instead of names on all study forms and field notes.
RESULTS
Social and demographic characteristics of respondents
Table 1 summarizes social and demographic characteristics of the study participants. A total of 82 respondents were retained during the follow-up KAP survey. Of the retained cohort, two-thirds of respondents (n=54; 65.9%) were males and one-third of respondents (n=28; 34.1%) were females. A vast majority of respondents (n=79; 96.0%) were aged ≥25 years. Slightly more than a half of respondents (n=46; 56.1%) had primary education. However, a good proportion of respondents (n=30; 36.6%) had never been to school. Furthermore, the vast majority of respondents (n=78; 95.1%) were Christians. Slightly more than a half of respondents (n=46; 56.1%) belonged to Wazinza ethnic group.
Socio-demographic characteristics of study participants
Knowledge on the cause of schistosomiasis
Respondents were asked how one can get infected with schistosomiasis. A vast majority of respondents (n=69; 84.2%) mentioned contact with infected water as the possible cause of schistosomiasis during follow-up survey compared to fewer (n=35; 42.7%) who said so during baseline survey. The difference was highly significant at P<0.0001. Contact with dirty water was also mentioned to be the cause of schistosomiasis by a good number of respondents (n=29; 35.4%) after the intervention compared to a few (n=12; 14.6%) before intervention. The difference was also significant at P<0.002. There were no significant differences for those who mentioned sexual contact or witchcraft, bad weather/wind, and over exposure in the sun (i.e., lay epidemiology) to be the cause of schistosomiasis (Table 2).
Respondents’ knowledge of how can one get infected with schistosomiasis
Knowledge on symptoms of intestinal schistosomiasis
Respondents were also asked what the symptoms of intestinal schistosomiasis are. Table 3 summarizes the findings. Generally speaking, respondents were more knowledgeable of the symptoms such as abdominal pains, diarrhea, blood in stool, dysentery, vomiting blood, and swollen abdomen after the intervention than before. The differences were highly significant at P<0.0001.
Respondents’ knowledge of the symptoms of schistosomiasis
Knowledge on health consequences of intestinal schistosomiasis
Respondents were also asked about the health consequences of intestinal schistosomiasis if it is not treated in time. The key findings are presented in Table 4. Knowledge of respondents with regard to health consequences of intestinal schistosomiasis were found to have increased significantly during the follow-up compared to the baseline survey. Many respondents mentioned ascites (swollen abdomen), severe liver damage (liver cirrhosis), hematemesis (vomiting blood), poor cognitive performance, stunted growth, body weakness/fatigue, and anemia during post-intervention survey than baseline. The differences were highly significant at P<0.0001.
Respondents’ knowledge of the health consequences of schistosomiasis
Preventive measures against intestinal schistosomiasis
Respondents were also asked what measures they take to prevent themselves from getting infected with schistosomiasis. We found a significant increase in knowledge of the respondents with respect to preventive measures undertaken between baseline and post-intervention surveys such as avoiding contact with infected water (e.g. water with snails), avoiding contact with dirty water, contact/use safe water sources (e.g. water from pumped well), and taking bath at home. This increase in knowledge was highly statistically significant at P<0.001 (Table 5).
Respondents’ preventive measures against schistosomiasis
Knowledge on the cause of intestinal worm infections
Respondents were asked how one can get infected with intestinal worms. There was significant increase in respondents’ knowledge on the cause of intestinal worm infections (Table 6). Many respondents knew how one can get infected with intestinal worms after the intervention than before. Possible cause mentioned were eating food without thoroughly washing hands, walking and visiting latrine barefooted, not thoroughly washing hands after visiting latrine, eating fruits and raw foodstuff (e.g., a piece of raw cassava or mango) without washing. The difference in the increase of knowledge was significant at P<0.001.
Respondents’ knowledge of how can one get infected with intestinal worms
Knowledge on symptoms of intestinal worm infections
Respondents were also asked what the symptoms of intestinal worms are. Table 7 summarizes the findings. Generally speaking, respondents were more knowledgeable of the symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, anemia, swollen legs and face, stunting, vomiting blood, and swollen abdomen after the intervention than before. The differences were highly significant at P<0.0001.
Respondents’ knowledge of the symptoms of intestinal worms
Knowledge on health consequences of intestinal worm infections
Respondents were also asked about the health consequences of intestinal worms if not treated in time. The key findings are presented in Table 8. Knowledge of respondents with regard to health consequences of intestinal worm infections were found to have increased significantly during the follow-up compared to the baseline survey. Many respondents mentioned ascites (swollen abdomen), obstruction of bowel, stunted growth, body weakness/fatigue, and poor cognitive performance during post-intervention survey than baseline. The differences were highly significant at P<0.0001 and P=0.0002.
Respondents’ knowledge of the health consequences of intestinal worms
Preventive measures against intestinal worms
Respondents were also asked what measures they take to prevent themselves from getting infected with intestinal worms. We found a significant increase in knowledge of the respondents with respect to preventive measures undertaken between baseline and post-intervention surveys such as washing hands thoroughly before eating, wearing shoes all the time/when visiting latrine, washing hands thoroughly after visiting latrine, washing fruits/vegetables and other raw foodstuff before eating, and washing hands thoroughly after washing baby’s bottom. This increase was highly statistically significant at P<0.001 (Table 9).
Respondents’ preventive measures against intestinal worms
DISCUSSION
This study examined changes in perceptions and practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections in a community population following implementation of a 3-year community health education intervention using PHAST strategy. Quasi-experiments are most often used in evaluating social programmes [23]. We acknowledge the limitations of our before/after design without control groups, but the decision to exclude control communities was not done deliberately but was purely based on the fact that a strong ethnographic element was incorporated in studying the PHAST intervention and to include control communities would have created considerable demand on investigators. Furthermore, by convention, in experimental designs, controls have to be far from experimental communities which would have created additional burden in terms of distance to cover between almost 2 different projects.
In brief, we concur with concerns raised elsewhere questioning the relevance of experimental studies using control groups, let alone randomized control trials, in understanding the processes and impacts of health education/promotion initiatives however well they may be conducted [24].
The retained cohort (n=82) comprised of a good number of male respondents (two-thirds). This might have biased some findings of this study. However, characteristics of those whom we lost during follow-up and those who were retained were comparable.
Findings of this study point out towards respondents’ increased knowledge of the cause, modes of transmission, symptoms, health consequences, and preventive measures with regard to schistosomiasis after PHAST intervention. These observations suggest that PHAST intervention had a positive impact on community’s KAP with regard to schistosome infections. This increase in knowledge after health education intervention is in agreement with other studies in Tanzania [17,25,26]. Similarly, there was significant increase in respondents’ knowledge of the cause, transmission, symptoms, health consequences, and prevention of intestinal worms after PHAST intervention.
KAP surveys are some of the most widely used contributions of the social sciences to public health [16,27-29]. However, we acknowledge the limitations of KAP surveys in providing snapshots of the distribution of normative or desired knowledge, but not necessarily attitudes and practice of individuals. All the same, the questionnaire-based surveys in this study provided insights into distribution of normative KAP regarding schistosome and intestinal worm transmission and control in a community population in Tanzania which was useful as a source of baseline data for post-intervention evaluation. Respondents’ increase in knowledge in almost all aspects of schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections was translated into actions to control the said infections. However, this has not been achieved by chance, but due to well-designed and locally adapted PHAST intervention.
We conclude that there has been significant improvement in KAP of the study community with respect to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections which is primarily attributable to PHAST intervention and possibly other control interventions such as mass drug administration and provision of pumped wells which were taking place simultaneously on Kome Island as attempts to achieve combined control of the said infections.
There seems to be a relatively successful transfer of biomedical knowledge on schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections through PHAST intervention, and this knowledge was still evident both theoretically as well as practically in the sense that it was translated into preventive actions by the study population in their local practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections 3 years after the intervention.
The involvement of local communities in the design and implementation of schistosome and intestinal worm control programmes is increasingly becoming recognized as crucial if cost-effective and long-term success is to be realized. Despite criticisms [30], PHAST approach is still useful in empowering communities to control water, hygiene, and sanitation-related infectious diseases such as schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections. Once people’s knowledge and perceptions of the disease and its consequences are recognized, health education needs to be tailored to enhance more understanding of the nature of the disease and the human role in its transmission.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) for funding the study through Good Neighbors International (GNI). We also acknowledge the National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, Tanzania and the Good Neighbors Tanzania, Western Chapter for providing technical and practical support throughout the study period. We thank all the people of Kome Island who in one way or another devoted their time to the study.
Notes
We have no conflict of interest related to this work.