The use of questionnaires for the identification of communities at risk for intestinal schistosomiasis in western Gojam.

In this preliminary study, children and teacher targeted questionnaires were distributed to 3,580 children and 220 teachers in 68 elementary schools in western Gojam, Ethiopia, to identify communities at risk for intestinal schistosomiasis. Children responses for having "schistosomiasis", "blood in stool" and "distended belly" were used as markers of intestinal schistosomiasis for which 9.0%, 10.4% and 30.6% of the children gave a "yes" answer. Questionnaire results were validated by the Kato-Katz technique in 10 schools and the prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis was 15%. The Pearson's coefficient of correlation between a "yes" answer for "schistosomiasis", "blood in stool", "distended belly" and Kato-Katz prevalence of schistosomiasis was 0.89, 0.69 and 0.45, respectively. Similarly strong correlation was found between teachers rank of schistosomiasis as a priority disease for control and the prevalence of schistosomiasis determined by Kato. The questionnaire approach was found to be operationally feasible, rapid and cost-efficient. It also provided information on disease perception and prioritization that might be of concern for health planning within primary health care concepts.