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SCHISTOSOMIASIS-RELATED PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES AND TREATMENT-SEEKING PRACTICES IN MAGU DISTRICT, TANZANIA: PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2004

J. R. MWANGA
Affiliation:
National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, PO Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
P. MAGNUSSEN
Affiliation:
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Jaegersborg Allé 1D, DK-2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark
THE LATE C. L. MUGASHE
Affiliation:
National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, PO Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
THE LATE R. M. GABONE
Affiliation:
National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, PO Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania
J. AAGAARD-HANSEN
Affiliation:
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Jaegersborg Allé 1D, DK-2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark

Abstract

A study on perceptions, attitudes and treatment-seeking practices related to schistosomiasis was conducted among the Wasukuma in the rural Magu district of Tanzania at the shore of Lake Victoria where Schistosoma haematobium and mansoni infections are endemic. The study applied in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and a questionnaire survey among adults and primary school children. The perceived symptoms and causes were incongruous with the biomedical perspective and a number of respondents found schistosomiasis to be a shameful disease. Lack of diagnostic and curative services at the government health care facilities was common, but there was a willingness from the biomedical health care services to collaborate with the traditional healers. Recommendations to the District Health Management Team were: that collaboration between biomedical and traditional health care providers should be strengthened and that the government facilities’ diagnostic and curative capacity with regard to schistosomiasis should be upgraded. Culturally compatible health education programmes should be developed in collaboration with the local community.

Type
Regular Articles
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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