Factors associated with Schistosomiasis control measures in Mwaluphamba Location, Kwale County, Kenya

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.