Attitude, Knowledge, Perception, Behavioural, Cultural and Religious Practices Influencing Transmission of Urogenital Schistosomiasis in Owena, Kajola and Baiken Communities Bordering Owena Reservoir/Dam, Ondo East Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

Background: Human urogenital schistosomiasis remains an important public health problem in Nigeria, especially in three communities, Owena, Kajola and Baiken bordering Owena Reservoir/Dam, Ondo East Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Unfortunately, scientific-based facts about attitude, knowledge, perception, behavioural, cultural and religious practices influencing the transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis are grossly scanty and without which sustainable control strategies cannot be planned. The aim of the study was to identify the roles played by the aforementioned variables in the transmission of the disease with a view to fashioning out sustainable control strategies of the disease.

Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to collect basic information on personal biodata, perception, health history, etc from the subjects. Data obtained were analyzed using Chi-square test, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis.

Results: Summary of significant associations between knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics of the three communities combined showed the following: gender status (p<0.000), distribution of latrine facilities in the communities (p<0.000), ignorance of how urogenital schistosomiasis is transmitted (p<0.002), self-medication urogenital schistosomiasis treatment (p<0.000), frequency of visits to the reservoir (p<0.001) (see Table I). Further results of this study revealed that participants’ perception, behavioural, cultural, religious practices were not significantly associated with the danger of urogenital schistosomiasis (p<0.110), snails seen around reservoir (p<0.259), reservoir ever visited before (p<0.24), household having toilet facilities (p<0.32), blood passed in urine (p<0.86), treatment ever received for urogenital schistosomiasis infection (p<0.86) (see Table III).

Conclusion: The overall findings of this twenty-four-month (August 2013 – July 2015) study showed that people orientations such as attitude, knowledge, perception, behavioural, cultural, religious practices about the causal factors, transmission cycles, negative impacts of urogenital schistosomiasis are grossly scanty and these could pose a threat to sound intervention strategies of the control of the disease. Control strategies should involve mass sensitization focused on health education, and on transmission to emphasise the role commonly played by water contact activities. Frequency of occurrence of snails’ host and urination habits should be looked into, as well. Enlightening teachers, parents to control the water contact behaviour of their wards especially the age group 5-15 years which accounts for 52% of total index of exposure. Adequate provision of modern alternative sources of water supply (e.g. pipe-borne water) with a view to reducing the population index of exposure, should be encouraged.