Knowledge and awareness of genital involvement and reproductive health consequences of urogenital schistosomiasis in endemic communities in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundThe World Health Organization, in the year 2009, renamed Schistosomiasis haematobium disease, urinary schistosomiasis, as urogenital schistosomiasis. This study, sought to determine whether urogenital schistosomiasis endemic community members were aware of the broadened scope of the disease and associated certain reproductive health related signs and symptoms to S. haematobium infection.MethodThis is a cross-sectional study in which 2,585 respondents aged 15–49 years from 30 riparian communities along the lower arm of the Volta lake were interviewed using a structured questionnaire; 24 focus group discussions were also conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency of responses for each question posed and Chi squared tests used to determine the associations between demographic variables and variables of interest. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the probability of a reported symptom as an indicator of urogenital schistosomiasis. Thematic analysis was used to examine narratives.ResultNinety four percent of male respondents and 88.7 % of female respondents acknowledged schistosomiasis as a water-borne disease. Only 207 out of 1,096 subjects (18.9 %) responding to questionnaire agreed to the knowledge that urogenital schistosomiasis can have reproductive health implications. A significant difference in variation in this knowledge was found between males (14.5 %) and females (7.2 %) (p = 0.001). The study also found that, although knowledge on HIV was high, only 12.3 % of respondents knew that urogenital schistosomiasis could facilitate the acquisition of HIV. Women who reported to have ever suffered schistosomiasis were 1.3 and 1.5 times more likely to report vaginal discharge and vaginal itch. Sexual dysfunction (11.1 %) and urethral discharge (10.6 %) were the most frequently reported symptoms among males.ConclusionThe study finds very limited knowledge on the reproductive health consequences of the disease among endemic communities. It is recommended that health education on urogenital schistosomiasis should also include issues on symptoms of the disease, reproductive health consequences and HIV transmission.

Female genital schistosomiasis and HIV/AIDS: Reversing the neglect of girls and women

“…Additionally, efforts have been made to develop FGS vaccines alongside HIV/AIDS vaccines, with several schistosomiasis vaccines now in clinical testing [36]. There are also efforts in place to improve local advocacy and health education around FGS [37].…”

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on Schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

“…The current findings highlight the significance of health education as a key component of the schistosomiasis control programs [ 31 , 51 , 55 ]. This is because such programs are said to improve awareness, knowledge and uptake of preventive chemotherapy [ 17 , 31 , 34 , 40 , 42 , 45 , 47 , 48 ], thus increasing the success of MDA programmes.…”

“… Practice: (i) 38.5% of males and 39.5% of females showed symptoms during the study period reported to have done nothing about their health condition, (ii) 23.3% of males and 29.7% of females were taking self-medication and (iii) only 23.3% of males and 29.7% of females visited a health facility. Yirenya-Tawiah et al [ 51 ] / 2016 To determine urogenital schistosomiasis awareness in terms of its scope and signs and symptoms Mixed method study using a structured questionnaire; 24 focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted 2585 respondents aged 15–49 years from 30 riparian communities/ Endemic communities in Ghana Socio-demographic factors: Males were more knowledgeable than females, 14.5% and 7.2% ( p = 0.001), respectively. Knowledge: 99.4% of male respondents and 88.7% of female respondents were aware of schistosomiasis as a waterborne disease.…”

“…Results from the reviewed studies suggest that awareness and knowledge of schistosomiasis was poor among women and uneducated members of the community [ 16 , 28 – 30 , 33 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 49 , 51 ]. In contrast, other studies observed that participants below the age of 20 were more knowledgeable and aware about schistosomiasis [ 29 , 30 , 37 , 42 ].…”

Case Report: Highlighting Male Genital Schistosomiasis (MGS) in Fishermen from the Southwestern Shoreline of Lake Malawi, Mangochi District

“…Our cases presented symptoms of MGS described in the literature, which can be mistaken for STI as in the example described in "Case 2," and, thus, incorrectly received routine syndromic STI management, 16 highlighting the mistaken diagnosis and mismanagement of MGS treatable with PZQ. 17,18 The changing clinical presentations and parasitological results of our cases highlight the challenges associated with MGS diagnosis and management, requiring the development of better, low-cost, accessible, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tests. Although real-time PCR demonstrates greater ability to incriminate most cases, it remains relatively expensive and not always available in endemic areas.…”