Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Schistosomiasis Among Children in Northern Senegal

Authors

  • Simona Frigerio Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy
  • Fabrizio Bert Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
  • Marco Clari Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy
  • Giovanni Di Fine ASL TO4, Chivasso, Torino
  • Susanna Riva ASL TO4, Chivasso, Torino
  • Ilaria Bergese Department of Pediatric Emergency, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
  • Samba Gueye Diouf École Primaire, Kassack North, Senegal
  • Rosaria Alvaro Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy
  • Ersilia Buonomo Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2016.10.002

Keywords:

attitude, children, knowledge, practices, schistosomiasis, Senegal

Abstract

Background

Schistosomiasis is a highly prevalent parasitic disease in Senegal. The early symptoms are hematuria and dysuria. Children's comprehension of the disease is fundamental to preventing the infection.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge attitudes, and practices related to schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in 2 rural villages in Northern Senegal and to evaluate their impact on the disease.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data about children's knowledge of schistosomiasis, behavior, and preventive measures were collected through a questionnaire.

Findings

Questionnaire responses from 575 schoolchildren were analyzed. Correct answers about risky behavior for schistosomiasis were associated with early symptoms (P = 0.010). Wearing shoes and washing hands with soap were associated with not having hematuria and dysuria (P = 0.007 and 0.049, respectively). Playing in rivers was associated with the aforementioned symptoms (P < 0.001). Children who had good knowledge of schistosomiasis reportedly did not have symptoms (P = 0.002). A logistic regression model showed that female sex (odds ratio = 0.35; P = 0.01) and attending a primary school (odds ratio = 0.13; P < 0.001) were significant predictors of a lower risk of the early symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis.

Conclusions

This study revealed that the level of knowledge among children in North Senegal about the causes, transmission, prevention, and treatment of schistosomiasis warrants implementing educational intervention.

Author Biographies

Simona Frigerio, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy

RN, MSN, PhD candidate

Fabrizio Bert, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

MD

Marco Clari, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy

RN, MSN, PhD student

Giovanni Di Fine, ASL TO4, Chivasso, Torino

RN, MSN

Susanna Riva, ASL TO4, Chivasso, Torino

MSC

Ilaria Bergese, Department of Pediatric Emergency, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy

RN, MSN

Samba Gueye Diouf, École Primaire, Kassack North, Senegal

MSC

Rosaria Alvaro, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy

RN, MSN

Ersilia Buonomo, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy

MD

Downloads

Published

2017-03-08

Issue

Vol. 82 No. 5 (2016)

Section

Original Research

License

Copyright (c) 2017 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms. If a submission is rejected or withdrawn prior to publication, all rights return to the author(s):

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

Submitting to the journal implicitly confirms that all named authors and rights holders have agreed to the above terms of publication. It is the submitting author's responsibility to ensure all authors and relevant institutional bodies have given their agreement at the point of submission.

Note: some institutions require authors to seek written approval in relation to the terms of publication. Should this be required, authors can request a separate licence agreement document from the editorial team (e.g. authors who are Crown employees).