Evaluation of Health Services Provided for Schistosomiasis Control in Kafr El-Dawar Health District | ||||
| Journal of High Institute of Public Health | ||||
| Article 4, Volume 29, Issue 4, October 1999, Page 671-682 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.325229 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| Manal R. Koura; Ossama M. Awad; Amal A. El-Sahn | ||||
| Department of Tropical Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: In 1988 the prevalence rate of Schistosoma mansoni among primary school children in Beheira governorate was 41.1%. About 2% of the detected cases had a high intensity of infection [>816 eggs per gram of stool]. Objective: The present study aimed at evaluating the health services provided for intestinal schistosomiasis control in Kafr El-Dawar Health District [KDHD], Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Methods: The action plan of KDHD for schistosomisis control was reviewed and it was found to vary from high to low endemic areas. Accordingly, two rural health units were randomly selected; one serving a high endemic [HE] area and the other serving a low endemic [LE] area. The quality of treatment and laboratory services provided by them was assessed. Two randomly selected mixed primary schools -one from each area- were investigated for S. mansoni prevalence and intensity of infection using the Kato-Katz technique. Results: It was found that, 18.7% of the studied primary school children were infected with S. mansoni. About 86% of them had a low intensity of infection [≤ 100 epg of stool] and only 4% were highly infected [> 400 epg], but the egg excretion did not exceed 700 epg. No statistically significant difference was observed between high and low endemic areas as regards either prevalence or intensity of infection. Shortage in laboratory technicians and diagnostic facilities resulted in poor quality of the following primary health care control activities: screening of school children, active monthly examination of 10% of the LE population and mass treatment of the HE population. However, mass treatment of school children was the most feasible control activity; and services provided for schistosomiasis control in KDHD achieved a drop in disease morbidity in the most vulnerable group, the school children, in spite of shortages in human and non-human resources. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Health Services; Schistosomiasis Control; Kafr El-Dawar; Beheira | ||||
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