Alternative approaches in schistosomiasis control

Abstract

Measures for the control of schistosomiasis were implemented in Egypt beginning 1922. This shows that developing endemic countries are facing this problem for near 70 years. However, results in the control of this infection have not been satisfactorily obtained in spite of the technologies and strategies recently developed. The idea that social and economic components are relevant in the control of schistosomiasis is not new although its extension and profundity have not usually been well understood. More recently, most of the workers have recognized that the focal distribution of the prevalence rates of schistosomiasis should not be neglected in the control of the infection. At present, field work projects on the control of schistosomiasis are being developed in rural areas of two Brazilian studies (Espírito Santo and Pernambuco). The adopted strategy aims to interfere in the complex relationships between man and his bio-social-cultural environment, without forgetting that the unequal distribution of the space is a consequence of the political and economic organization of the Society.

Epidemiological and control aspects of schistosomiasis in Brazilian endemic areas

“…More recently, Katz (1992, 1998) Coura et al (1992, Bina (1992) Barbosa and Coimbra Jr. (1992), Kloetzel (1992), Barbosa (1995), and Coura (1995) reviewed the epidemiological situation and suggested controlling actions for disease in Brazil, while Hiroshi Kano (1992) and Amaral and Porto (1994) analyzed the controlling actions adopted by National Health Foundation (Fundação Nacional de Saúde -Funasa).…”

Abordagens alternativas no controle da esquistossomose: buscando incluir o subjetivo na epidemiologia

“…A pesquisa participante (Borba, 1981), a "epidemiologia comunitária" (Tognoni, 1993), a educação popular (Valla et al, 1993) e, no caso da esquistossomose, o modelo de controle desta sugerido por Barbosa & Coimbra (1992) e Barbosa (1993), aparecem como abordagens que visam à apreensão do indivíduo em sua globalidade, de forma a trazer seu universo simbólico-cultural, sua instrução histórica e sua "visão de mundo" e do processo Saúde/ Doença (S/D) para instrumentalizar a elaboração de uma prática de intervenção em saude pública de forma a reduzir o processo local de produção de doenças.…”

“…A abordagem antropológica no controle da esquistossomose proposta por Barbosa & Coimbra (1992) considera a necessidade de se incluirem aspectos da subjetividade dos expos-tos à infecção. A fim de fazer algumas reflexões sobre a inclusão de alguns aspectos antropoló-gicos no planejamento de programas de controle da esquistossomose e da inclusão da subjetividade na epidemiologia, serão relatadas algumas experiências vividas com populações em áreas endêmicas rurais.…”

Environmental intervention as a tool for control of schistosomiasis: suggestions from a field study in Northeast Brazil

“…We thus are forced to conclude that any reasonable degree of control demands a multidisciplinary approach, based upon chemotherapy plus intervention upon the environment (Barbosa & Coimbra Jr., 1992). Evidence from the five areas hitherto investigated suggest that a selective policy, targeted towards areas at greatest risk will prove sufficiently effective (Kloetzel, 1967;Kloetzel & Schuster, 1987;Kloetzel & Vergetti, 1988;Kloetzel et al, 1990;Barbosa et al, 1993).…”