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Background: Soil transmitted helminthes and schistosomiasis is among neglected tropical diseases. More than 1.5 billion people are infected by STHs worldwide, the majority of whom are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Children aged 10 -12 years are among the vulnerable where males are more highly infected than females. Approximately around 400 million of school-age children are infected with parasitic worms worldwide. This results to intestinal malabsorption, iron reduced growth and impaired school performances. This study aimed to assess factors associated with acceptance of de-worming programme among primary schools in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar –es Salaam.
Methodology: This was a case control study where by schools accepted the intervention was controls and those refused were cases. A total of 28 primary schools were involved in a study. A questionnaire was used to collect information relevant to meet the objectives set for teachers and parents. Information regarding factors associated with acceptance of de-worming programme were collected from 140 teachers and 140 parents of the respective schools both cases and controls.
Results: The study revealed that knowledge on schistosomiasis among teachers and parents was statistically significantly associated with acceptance of the de-worming programme among cases [OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.1 -4.9, P = 0.02] and [OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.2 -5.1, P<0.01] respectively. Overall knowledge among parents was not statistically significant associated with acceptance of de-worming programme however there was increase rate of acceptance among controls by 50% [ OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.5 – 4.7, P = 0.44].
Sensitization of parents showed a strong statistically significant association with the acceptance of the programme among cases (58%), controls (100%), (P < 0.001). Benefits of de-worming programme were negatively perceived almost similar in both teacher’s cases (33%) and parent’s cases (30%) Though parent’s controls showed high percentage (40%) of negative perceptions.
Conclusion: This study showed that majority of the parents and teachers had poor knowledge on STHs specifically on schistosomiasis in relation to de-worming programme though awareness was good. Benefits of the programme and drugs used for de-worming programme were negatively perceived by the majority of the parents and teachers. Moreover training provided to school teachers on de-worming programme was inadequate. On the other hand, sensitization to the parents was inadequate. Therefore, there is great need of teachers and parents training on Schistosomiasis and adequate involvement in de-worming programme. |
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