Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Urinary schistosomiasis is a disease caused by Schistosoma haematobium and is one of the public health problems in Ethiopia. When developing specific schistosomiasis control intervention program, the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) must be taken into account. T...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00813-6 |
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| author | Ketema Deribew Delenasaw Yewhalaw Zeleke Mekonnen |
| author_facet | Ketema Deribew Delenasaw Yewhalaw Zeleke Mekonnen |
| author_sort | Ketema Deribew |
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| description | Abstract Background Urinary schistosomiasis is a disease caused by Schistosoma haematobium and is one of the public health problems in Ethiopia. When developing specific schistosomiasis control intervention program, the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) must be taken into account. This study aimed to assess the KAPs of primary schoolchildren towards urinary schistosomiasis in Ethiopia. Methods A total of 1171 study participants aged 5 to 15 years were selected randomly. Results Of the 1171 interviewed schoolchildren, 654, or 55.8%, said they had heard of urinary schistosomiasis. Using river or dam water for household consumption had association with urinary schistosomiasis infection history (P = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that males had higher risk of getting urinary schistosomiasis infection compared to females (OR = 3.01, P < 0.001). Children in low socio-economic status had higher risk of having urinary schistosomiasis compared to high socio-economic status (OR = 2.81, P < 0.001). Compared to urban dweller, children in rural area had higher risk of having urinary schistosomiasis (OR = 4.34, P < 0.001). Respondents who used river water (OR = 2.48, P = 0.005) and lake or dam water (OR = 3.33, P = < 0.001) were at higher risk of urinary schistosomiasis infection. Furthermore, respondents swimming or playing in river water had higher risk of urinary schistosomiasis infection history (OR = 1.62, P = 0.005). Conclusions There was knowledge gap in schoolchildren about urinary schistosomiasis causes, transmission, symptoms and prevention. Therefore, appropriate health education and behavioral change intervention is needed to create better knowledge and practices in children to prevent and control urinary schistosomiasis. Health organizations and policy makers should contribute to improve knowledge at the school as well as community level. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bbc601504ef141cd902907b2dff1d537 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2072-1315 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-bbc601504ef141cd902907b2dff1d5372025-08-20T02:17:56ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-04-014411910.1186/s41043-025-00813-6Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional studyKetema Deribew0Delenasaw Yewhalaw1Zeleke Mekonnen2School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma UniversitySchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma UniversitySchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma UniversityAbstract Background Urinary schistosomiasis is a disease caused by Schistosoma haematobium and is one of the public health problems in Ethiopia. When developing specific schistosomiasis control intervention program, the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) must be taken into account. This study aimed to assess the KAPs of primary schoolchildren towards urinary schistosomiasis in Ethiopia. Methods A total of 1171 study participants aged 5 to 15 years were selected randomly. Results Of the 1171 interviewed schoolchildren, 654, or 55.8%, said they had heard of urinary schistosomiasis. Using river or dam water for household consumption had association with urinary schistosomiasis infection history (P = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that males had higher risk of getting urinary schistosomiasis infection compared to females (OR = 3.01, P < 0.001). Children in low socio-economic status had higher risk of having urinary schistosomiasis compared to high socio-economic status (OR = 2.81, P < 0.001). Compared to urban dweller, children in rural area had higher risk of having urinary schistosomiasis (OR = 4.34, P < 0.001). Respondents who used river water (OR = 2.48, P = 0.005) and lake or dam water (OR = 3.33, P = < 0.001) were at higher risk of urinary schistosomiasis infection. Furthermore, respondents swimming or playing in river water had higher risk of urinary schistosomiasis infection history (OR = 1.62, P = 0.005). Conclusions There was knowledge gap in schoolchildren about urinary schistosomiasis causes, transmission, symptoms and prevention. Therefore, appropriate health education and behavioral change intervention is needed to create better knowledge and practices in children to prevent and control urinary schistosomiasis. Health organizations and policy makers should contribute to improve knowledge at the school as well as community level.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00813-6Urinary schistosomiasisKnowledgeAttitudePracticesSchoolchildrenEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Ketema Deribew Delenasaw Yewhalaw Zeleke Mekonnen Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Urinary schistosomiasis Knowledge Attitude Practices Schoolchildren Ethiopia |
| title | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | knowledge attitudes and practices on urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in ethiopia cross sectional study |
| topic | Urinary schistosomiasis Knowledge Attitude Practices Schoolchildren Ethiopia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00813-6 |
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