Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda.
Background Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease and a serious global-health problem with over 230 million people requiring treatment, of which the majority live in Africa. In Uganda, over 4 million people are infected. Extensive parasitological data exist on infection prevalence, intensit...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b244acb146d443e6afea94143a078686 2023-05-15T15:16:55+02:00 Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda. Lazaaro Mujumbusi Edith Nalwadda Agnes Ssali Lucy Pickering Janet Seeley Keila Meginnis Poppy H L Lamberton 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 https://doaj.org/article/b244acb146d443e6afea94143a078686 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 https://doaj.org/article/b244acb146d443e6afea94143a078686 PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 17, Iss 1, p e0010687 (2023) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 2023-03-26T01:30:10Z Background Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease and a serious global-health problem with over 230 million people requiring treatment, of which the majority live in Africa. In Uganda, over 4 million people are infected. Extensive parasitological data exist on infection prevalence, intensities and the impact of repeated praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA). However, how perceptions of schistosomiasis shape prevention and treatment practices and their implications for control measures are much less well understood. Methods Rapid ethnographic appraisals were performed for six weeks in each of three Schistosoma mansoni high endemicity communities on the shores of Lake Victoria, Mayuge District, Uganda. Data were collected between September 2017 and April 2018. Data were collected through structured observations, transect walks, and participant observation, and sixty in-depth interviews and 19 focus group discussions with purposively recruited participants. Data were analyzed thematically using iterative categorization, looking at five key areas: perceptions of 1) the symptoms of schistosomiasis; 2) the treatment of schistosomiasis; 3) how schistosomiasis is contracted; 4) how schistosomiasis is transmitted onwards and responsibilities associated with this; and 5) how people can prevent infection and/or onward transmission. Results Observations revealed open defecation is a common practice in all communities, low latrine coverage compared to the population, and all communities largely depend on lake water and contact it on a daily basis. Perceptions that a swollen stomach was a sign/symptom of 'ekidada' (caused by witchcraft) resulted in some people rejecting free praziquantel in favour of herbal treatment from traditional healers at a fee. Others rejected praziquantel because of its perceived side effects. People who perceived that schistosomiasis is caught from drinking unboiled lake water did not seek to minimize skin contact with infected water sources. Community members had varied perceptions ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 17 1 e0010687 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Lazaaro Mujumbusi Edith Nalwadda Agnes Ssali Lucy Pickering Janet Seeley Keila Meginnis Poppy H L Lamberton Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda. |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
Background Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease and a serious global-health problem with over 230 million people requiring treatment, of which the majority live in Africa. In Uganda, over 4 million people are infected. Extensive parasitological data exist on infection prevalence, intensities and the impact of repeated praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA). However, how perceptions of schistosomiasis shape prevention and treatment practices and their implications for control measures are much less well understood. Methods Rapid ethnographic appraisals were performed for six weeks in each of three Schistosoma mansoni high endemicity communities on the shores of Lake Victoria, Mayuge District, Uganda. Data were collected between September 2017 and April 2018. Data were collected through structured observations, transect walks, and participant observation, and sixty in-depth interviews and 19 focus group discussions with purposively recruited participants. Data were analyzed thematically using iterative categorization, looking at five key areas: perceptions of 1) the symptoms of schistosomiasis; 2) the treatment of schistosomiasis; 3) how schistosomiasis is contracted; 4) how schistosomiasis is transmitted onwards and responsibilities associated with this; and 5) how people can prevent infection and/or onward transmission. Results Observations revealed open defecation is a common practice in all communities, low latrine coverage compared to the population, and all communities largely depend on lake water and contact it on a daily basis. Perceptions that a swollen stomach was a sign/symptom of 'ekidada' (caused by witchcraft) resulted in some people rejecting free praziquantel in favour of herbal treatment from traditional healers at a fee. Others rejected praziquantel because of its perceived side effects. People who perceived that schistosomiasis is caught from drinking unboiled lake water did not seek to minimize skin contact with infected water sources. Community members had varied perceptions ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lazaaro Mujumbusi Edith Nalwadda Agnes Ssali Lucy Pickering Janet Seeley Keila Meginnis Poppy H L Lamberton |
author_facet |
Lazaaro Mujumbusi Edith Nalwadda Agnes Ssali Lucy Pickering Janet Seeley Keila Meginnis Poppy H L Lamberton |
author_sort |
Lazaaro Mujumbusi |
title |
Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda. |
title_short |
Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda. |
title_full |
Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda. |
title_fullStr |
Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in Mayuge, Uganda. |
title_sort |
understanding perceptions of schistosomiasis and its control among highly endemic lakeshore communities in mayuge, uganda. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 https://doaj.org/article/b244acb146d443e6afea94143a078686 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 17, Iss 1, p e0010687 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 https://doaj.org/article/b244acb146d443e6afea94143a078686 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010687 |
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PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
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e0010687 |
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