Abstract:
The study set out to investigate the factors
associated with Schistosomiasis control
measures in Mwaluphamba location of
Kwale County. A descriptive cross-sectional
study design was used. Mwaluphamba location
was purposely sampled and simple random
sampling was used to select 338
respondents in villages in each location.
Structured questionnaires were used to collect
data. A majority of the respondents
were males (60%), Muslim affiliated
(85%), aged 41 years and over (39%) and
most (56%) of them had achieved at least a
primary level of education. Results showed
that 40% of the respondents were knowledgeable
of health education as a service
offered by health care providers to control
Schistosomiasis. Male respondents and
those of Islamic affiliation were five times
(OR: 4.686) and three times (OR: 3.13)
more likely to seek health education in
comparison to their female counterparts
respectively. Respondents’ who had
achieved at least a primary level of education
and those that earned an income of
above one thousand shillings significantly
utilized mass treatment. Respondents with
income levels below a thousand shillings
were less likely to seek both health education
and mass treatment compared to those
with a higher income. In conclusion, there
was a statistically significant association
between respondents’ socio-demographic
factors and control measures for the infection.
There is need for equal implementation
of all control measures to overcome the
socio-demographic barriers and to ensure
effective control of Schistosomiasis infection.
