URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS - OPTIONS FOR CONTROL WITHIN ENDEMIC RURAL COMMUNITIES - A CASE-STUDY IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

A preliminary investigation was conducted into factors that may bring about control of morbidity due to endemic urinary schistosomiasis in r ural communities. A Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Beliefs (KAPB) study was conducted among primary schoolchildren (those with more tha n four years elementary education) in Ogbagba village, Osun State, Nig eria, from October 1990 to December 1993, to ascertain their understan ding of urinary schistosomiasis. The study further assessed the potent ial of subjective haematuria, i.e. asking children with haematuria in the recent past to so indicate, in detecting urinary schistosomiasis. It was established that subjective haematuria is both sensitive and sp ecific for detecting urinary schistosomiasis in endemic communities. T he study also established that subjective haematuria offers a valid, e asy to recognize target for morbidity control in endemic situation. It is proposed that with appropriate health education; availability of s afe, effective, easy-to-administer drugs, such as praziquantel, morbid ity control of urinary schistosomiasis is feasible within the primary health care system with the lower cadre health worker or even a volunt eer village health worker (VVHW) at the centre of the control effort.