Schistosomiasis in School Going Children in Newly Established Transmission Site of Chifubu Area of Ndola Town, Zambia

Kasoma Patricia, MBChB; Mwanakasale Victor, Ph.D.; Kabelenga Elijah, M.Sc.

Authors

Kasoma Patricia, MBChB Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine Copperbelt University, Ndola, 10101, Zambia
Mwanakasale Victor, Ph.D. Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine Copperbelt University, Ndola, 10101, Zambia
Kabelenga Elijah, M.Sc. Ndola College of Nursing and Midwifery, Postal agency, Ndola, 10101, Zambia

Keywords:

Knowledge, Prevalence, Schistosomiasis, Ndola district

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is a very severe and overwhelming parasitic infection especially in developing countries. Recent reports of schistosomiasis have been reported in Chifubu township of Ndola district. However, no study has been conducted in area about this phenomenon. The main objective of this study was to establish the transmission pattern of schistosomiasis in Chifubu area of Ndola Town.

Methods: A cross sectional survey that used non laboratory methods in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis was conducted among 390 school going children at selected government schools.

Results: More than half (53.6%) of the participants were females. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was 22.6%. Swimming was the most popular exposure related behaviour. The knowledge about the disease was found to be 61.8% while its transmission was 41.3%. Conclusions: This study has shown that contact with water bodies is a major contributor to schistosomiasis prevalence. We recommend researchers and disease control managers in the country, through inter-sectorial collaboration, to devise new control strategies and periodic disease surveillance programmes.

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