Schistosomiasis-related perceptions, attitudes and treatment-seeking practices in Magu District, Tanzania: Public health implications

TY - JOUR

T1 - Schistosomiasis-related perceptions, attitudes and treatment-seeking practices in Magu District, Tanzania

T2 - Public health implications

AU - Mwanga, J. R.

AU - Magnussen, P.

AU - Mugashe, C. L.

AU - Gabone, R. M.

AU - Aagaard-Hansen, J.

PY - 2004/1/1

Y1 - 2004/1/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0347717592&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0021932003006114

DO - 10.1017/S0021932003006114

M3 - Review

C2 - 14989532

AN - SCOPUS:0347717592

SN - 0021-9320

VL - 36

SP - 63

EP - 81

JO - Journal of Biosocial Science

JF - Journal of Biosocial Science

IS - 1

ER -