Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Laboratory Department, Akomaa Memorial Adventist Hospital, Kortwia, Bekwai, Ghana.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Aug 16;17(8):e0011513. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011513. eCollection 2023 Aug.
Adequate knowledge and proper practices coupled with knowledge of the burden of disease are necessary for the eradication of Schistosoma infection. This study assessed knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) as well as health outcomes related to Schistosoma haematobium infection at Kwahu Afram Plains North District (KAPND).
A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire was carried out among 140 participants from four local communities in KAPND in August 2021. From these participants, 10ml of urine was collected for determination of the presence of S. haematobium and urine routine examination. In addition, 4ml of blood was collected and used for haematological examination. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis using IBM SPSS were used to describe and represent the data collected.
The study reports a gap in knowledge about schistosomiasis in the study area with the majority indicating that they have not heard of schistosomiasis (60.7%), do not know the mode of transmission (49.3%), and do not know how the disease could be spread (51.5%). The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was 52.9%. This was associated with age, occupation, perceived mode of Schistosoma transmission, knowledge of Schistosoma prevention, awareness that schistosomiasis can be treated, frequency of visits to water bodies, and water usage patterns. In multivariate analysis, factors that remained significantly associated with S. haematobium infection were age 21-40 (OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06-0.76), 41-60 (OR = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.01-0.52) and ≥ 60 (OR = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.02-0.87), informal employment (OR = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.01-0.69) and awareness of transmission by drinking water from river body (OR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.03-0.92). In Schistosoma infection, reduced haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, lymphocytes and eosinophils were observed. White blood cells, neutrophils, and monocytes were significantly elevated in infected states. Urine analysis revealed high pus cells and red blood cells counts among Schistosoma-positive participants.
Schistosoma infection is endemic among inhabitants in KAPND, and is associated with a gap in knowledge, awareness, and practice possibly due to inadequate education in the area. Poor clinical outcomes associated with Schistosoma infection have been demonstrated in the area. A well-structured public education, nutritional intervention, and mass drug administration will be necessary to eradicate this menace.
为了消灭血吸虫感染，必须具备足够的知识和适当的做法，以及对疾病负担的了解。本研究评估了夸胡阿弗拉姆平原北区（KAPND）与埃及血吸虫病相关的知识、态度和实践（KAP）以及健康结果。
2021 年 8 月，采用横断面调查方法，对 KAPND 的四个当地社区的 140 名参与者进行了研究。从这些参与者中收集 10ml 尿液，用于确定是否存在埃及血吸虫和尿液常规检查。此外，还收集了 4ml 血液，用于血液学检查。采用 IBM SPSS 描述性统计和逻辑回归分析来描述和表示收集的数据。
研究报告称，该地区对血吸虫病的认识存在差距，大多数人表示他们没有听说过血吸虫病（60.7%），不知道传播途径（49.3%），也不知道疾病如何传播（51.5%）。埃及血吸虫病的总患病率为 52.9%。这与年龄、职业、感知的血吸虫传播模式、血吸虫病预防知识、意识到血吸虫病可以治疗、访问水体的频率以及用水模式有关。在多变量分析中，与 S. haematobium 感染显著相关的因素包括 21-40 岁（OR = 0.21，95%CI：0.06-0.76）、41-60 岁（OR = 0.01，95%CI：0.01-0.52）和≥60 岁（OR = 0.02，95%CI：0.02-0.87）、非正规就业（OR = 0.01，95%CI：0.01-0.69）和对从河流体饮水传播的认识（OR = 0.03，95%CI：0.03-0.92）。在血吸虫感染中，观察到血红蛋白、红细胞压积、平均红细胞体积、平均红细胞血红蛋白、淋巴细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞减少。在感染状态下，白细胞、中性粒细胞和单核细胞显著升高。尿液分析显示，埃及血吸虫阳性参与者的脓细胞和红细胞计数较高。
KAPND 居民中埃及血吸虫病流行，与知识、意识和实践方面的差距有关，这可能是由于该地区教育不足所致。该地区已证明与埃及血吸虫病相关的不良临床结果。为了消除这一威胁，需要进行结构化的公共教育、营养干预和大规模药物治疗。
