Health Policy and Planning, Vol 13, 423-432, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
F Curtale, P Pezzotti, A Sharbini, H Maadat, P Ingrosso, Y Saad and M Babille
Operational research was conducted in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt, to
gather the information needed to design an integrated control programme for
intestinal helminths in the area. To this aim, qualitative and quantitative
techniques were used on a sample representative of the entire governorate.
Mothers were questioned about their knowledge and perception of intestinal
helminths, their hygienic habits and health-seeking behaviour. At the same
time, a coprological survey was conducted on all the children 2 to 12 years
of age living in the selected households (n=2657) to provide baseline data
on the prevalence of infection with these parasites. The survey results
showed that intestinal helminth infections were more prevalent in rural
areas and in three of the 12 Governorate districts. Almost all the
respondents considered worms harmful and were aware of the need for
treatment. More than adequate knowledge was present on ways to prevent
infection. Good hygienic practices were associated with a low prevalence of
infection in the household. Practical recommendations were formulated to
design a helminth control programme tailored to the local situation and to
prioritize allocation of resources. Passive case detection appeared to be
appropriate to the level of infection in Qena (<15%). The
intervention should target areas and districts were prevalence of infection
was higher, and all children below 12 years of age. Health education,
besides encouraging mothers to refer their children to the health units for
treatment, should focus on improving hygienic behaviour. While schools
might be the best channel to contact children, the use of informal channels
of communications, such as television, should be promoted to reach the
mostly illiterate mothers. The research highlights the importance of
gathering information on mothers' perception and behaviour in the design
and implementation of a community-based intestinal helminths control
programme.
ARTICLES
Research report. Knowledge, perceptions and behaviour of mothers toward intestinal helminths in Upper Egypt: implications for control
International Course for Health Managers, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy; Strengthening Rural Health Services Project, Ministry of Health, Qena, Egypt; Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Italian Embassy, Cairo, Egypt
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