Lauridsen Sophie, Braae Uffe Christian, Ngowi Helena Aminel, Johansen Maria Vang
Department of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frb. C., Denmark.
One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Acta Trop. 2019 May;193:18-22. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.02.018. Epub 2019 Feb 15.
Taenia solium is a zoonotic tapeworm widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. Specific health education is regarded as a central element in controlling T. solium. In 2014, an electronic health education tool called 'The Vicious Worm', which was concerned with prevention of T. solium was introduced to health and agricultural professionals in Mbeya, Tanzania, an endemic setting. Introduction to ´The Vicious Worm' of 1.5 hours significantly improved the participants' knowledge. This study revisited the same study subjects one year later to assess persistence of knowledge regarding T. solium taeniosis/cysticercosis and to assess if the health education had changed work practices for the participants and the public.
The study was conducted in Tanzania between June and August 2015, with a fixed population of health and agricultural professionals recruited from a previous study testing 'The Vicious Worm'. The study used a test, a questionnaire survey, as well as semi-structured group and individual interviews.
The 79 study subjects, all health or agricultural professionals, had within one year relocated from Mbeya to 16 of 21 administrative regions of Tanzania. Sixty-four agreed to participate in the test and 48 to an interview. The test showed significant improvement in knowledge regarding T. solium taeniosis/cysticercosis, compared with the baseline knowledge level of the participants. Interview data found that the participants had used 'The Vicious Worm' as an educational tool and applied the knowledge from the program to implement new practices consisting of by-laws and practical workshops on building latrines, pig pens and hand washing stations in their communities.
Introduction to 'The Vicious Worm' led to changed practices and persistence in knowledge regarding T. solium. Incorporating health education as a specific health intervention tool should be encouraged and implemented at national or programmatic level.
猪带绦虫是一种人畜共患的绦虫，广泛分布于撒哈拉以南非洲地区。特定的健康教育被视为控制猪带绦虫的核心要素。2014年，一种名为“恶虫”的电子健康教育工具被引入坦桑尼亚姆贝亚的卫生和农业专业人员中，该地区是猪带绦虫的流行区，该工具与猪带绦虫的预防有关。对“恶虫”进行1.5小时的介绍显著提高了参与者的知识水平。本研究在一年后回访了相同的研究对象，以评估关于猪带绦虫病/囊尾蚴病知识的持续性，并评估健康教育是否改变了参与者和公众的工作方式。
该研究于2015年6月至8月在坦桑尼亚进行，固定人群为从之前测试“恶虫”的研究中招募的卫生和农业专业人员。该研究使用了测试、问卷调查以及半结构化的小组和个人访谈。
79名研究对象均为卫生或农业专业人员，在一年内从姆贝亚迁至坦桑尼亚21个行政区中的16个。64人同意参加测试，48人同意接受访谈。测试表明，与参与者的基线知识水平相比，关于猪带绦虫病/囊尾蚴病的知识有显著提高。访谈数据发现，参与者将“恶虫”用作教育工具，并应用该项目中的知识来实施新的做法，包括在其社区制定关于建造厕所、猪圈和洗手站的 bylaws（规章制度）以及举办实践讲习班。
对“恶虫”的介绍导致了行为改变以及关于猪带绦虫知识的持续性。应鼓励在国家或项目层面将健康教育作为一种特定的健康干预工具并加以实施。
