SCHISTOSOMIASIS SCREENING AND HEALTH-EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN - ACTION RESEARCH IN NILE DELTA VILLAGES

In Egypt an important component of the national schistosomiasis contro l policy is the regular screening of school children through the rural health units. In the Nile delta, a major challenge for the programme is the increasing predominance of Schistosoma mansoni as compared to S chistosoma haematobium over the past 20 years, and the need to adjust strategies to this new reality. The action research project, growing o ut of all in-depth study of schistosomiasis in two Nile delta villages , is intended to provide recommendations for schistosomiasis control t o the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population. This paper explores the practice of school-based screening. We thm describe the designing and testing of a revised screening procedure, which focuses on the col lection of stool specimens to diagnose S. mansoni and which is compreh ensive and gender-sensitive. Opportunities for health education are di scussed briefly, as this is necessary for an effective screening proce dure and to prevent reinfection. In conclusion, we mention the need to incorporate screening and health education into an integrated control strategy.