Risk factors, perceptions and practices associated with Taenia solium cysticercosis and its control in the smallholder pig production systems in Uganda: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

BackgroundPrevalence studies report Taenia solium cysticercosis in pig and human populations in Uganda. However, the factors influencing occurrence in smallholder pig production systems are not well documented and little is known about farmers’ perceptions of T. solium cysticercosis or farmer practices that could reduce transmission.MethodsTo determine the risk factors, perceptions and practices regarding T. solium cysticercosis, a household survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted in 1185 households in the rural and urban pig production systems in Masaka, Mukono and Kamuli Districts. Logistic regression was used to measure associations of risk factors with infection. Performance scores were calculated to summarise perceptions and practices of farmers regarding taeniosis, human cysticercosis and porcine cysticercosis as well as farmer behavior related to control or breaking transmission.ResultsPig breed type, farmers’ knowledge about transmission, sources of water used, and pig keeping homes where family members were unable to use the latrine were all significantly associated with T. solium cysticercosis in pigs. Performance scores indicated that farmers were more aware of taeniosis (63.0%; 95% Confidence Interval 60.0-65.8) than human or porcine cysticercosis; only three farmers (0.3%, 95% CI = 0.1–0.8) had knowledge on all three conditions. More farmers reported that they dewormed pigs (94.1%) than reported deworming themselves and their family members (62.0%). Albendazole was the most commonly used drug for deworming both pigs and humans (85.0 and 81.5% respectively). Just over half (54.6%) of the farmers interviewed had clean water near the latrines for washing hands. Of these, only 41.9% used water with soap to wash hands after latrine use.ConclusionFactors that significantly influenced occurrence of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs were identified. Farmers had some knowledge about the disease but did not link taeniosis, human cysticercosis, and porcine cysticercosis. Therefore, there is need to employ strategies that raise awareness and interrupt transmission.

Barriers for tuberculosis case finding in Southwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study

“…The health system's delay in the present study seems to primarily be related to a referral from a lower level to higher level health system for further investigations. This finding is similar to a previous study result in Ethiopia, in which the diagnostic delay was associated with care-seeking from multiple health care providers and visiting primary level health-care facilities for initial care [5].…”

“…We found a long health system delay, ranging from one to five months. A much longer health system delay was observed in our study than in that of a study conducted in Gonder Town, Ethiopia, in which the median health system's delay was five days [5]. This difference might be due to the differences in study settings and methods.…”

“…The early diagnosis of TB is crucial for controlling TB since this will reduce the length of delay in the diagnosis of TB and prevent transmission. To be able to facilitate the early diagnosis of TB, accessibility to TB diagnostic and treatment facilities is crucial [5,6]. The Stop TB strategy was launched by the WHO and adopted by Ethiopia in 2006 [2,7].…”

Analysis of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Populations in Four Villages of the <i>Boucle du Mouhoun</i> Region (Burkina Faso) Regarding <i>Tænia solium</i> Life Cycle

“…On the epidemiological level, the existence of the disease is facilitated by poor hygienic conditions of populations but also the existence free roaming pigs [8] [9]. But the population's knowledge of cysticercosis transmission is associated with the reduction in the incidence of cysticercosis in pigs [10] [11]. On the other hand, practices such as open defecation, consumption of poorly cooked infected pork, and consumption of water from an unprotected source are factors that maintain and transmit the couple T. solium teniasis/cysticercosis in rural areas [7] [11].…”

“…But the population's knowledge of cysticercosis transmission is associated with the reduction in the incidence of cysticercosis in pigs [10] [11]. On the other hand, practices such as open defecation, consumption of poorly cooked infected pork, and consumption of water from an unprotected source are factors that maintain and transmit the couple T. solium teniasis/cysticercosis in rural areas [7] [11]. It is clear that the knowledge, practices and attitudes of populations play an important role in the epidemiology of this disease.…”