Abstract:
A baseline survey was conducted in the Lower Moshi
Rice Irrigation Scheme from mid-March to June 1990,
aiming at finding out the prevalence for schistosomiasis
and related transmission factors for the disease. The
findings revealed prevalences of 3.8% and 30.9% for
schistosomiasis haematobia and mansoni respectively.
Among the study population, 0.5% of the individuals
were infected with both S.haematobium and S.mansoni.
Biomphalaria snail species were predominant compared
to Bulinus species in the water bodies surveyed.
Poor sanitation was a problem in the study area.
The April 1990 flood disaster reduced the previously
observed latrine-coverage of households from 84.5% to
24.3%.
Before t?e floods, about 10.5% of latrines were
good and clean, 59.7% were satisfactory and 29.8% were
.
unfit for use.
After the floods, only 4.8% of latrines
remained in the satisfactory category whereas the rest
became unfit for use.
On the other hand, no single
latrine was sighted throughout the rice fields.
Such
absence
of
latrines
transmission
encourages
of
schistosomiasis and other excreta-borne parasites such
as intestinal helminths through indiscriminate excreta
disposal.
with respect to schistosomiasis symptoms although
less than 50% of respondents were aware of haematuria
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viii
,
(9.9%) and the passing of bloody stools (41.6%), more
than 50% of respondents perceived the two symptoms to
be due to schistosomiasis. Whereas the majority of
respondents (67.2%) knew at least one source of
schistosomiasis infection, only 41.4% of respondents
knew at least one self-protective measure although
partial, and only 18.3% of respondents claimed to apply
such partial self-protective measures. There was no
significant difference in infection prevalences found
between the various groups of respondents based on
occupation, working time schedules and self-protective
measures. Most of the respondents would seek attention
at a modern health facility when they develop symptoms
of schistosomiasis.
This study has established that schistosomiasis lS
endemic in the Lower Moshi Rice Irrigation Scheme. It
also established that people have little awareness of
the disease symptoms and lack adequate knowledge about
source of infection, mode of transmission and proper
self-protective measures. Increasing people's awareness
and knowledge on schistosomiasis is therefore
recommended in order to achieve control of this disease
in the Lower Moshi Rice Irrigation Scheme.
I
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