The road towards sustainable control of schistosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Pre-assessment of staff performance and material resources in endemic regions
- Author:
Linsuke SYLVIE
;
Mpabanzi LILIANE
;
Nundu SABIN
;
Mukunda FAUSTIN
;
Lutumba PASCAL
;
Polman KATJA
- Keywords:
Schistosomiasis;
Control;
Performance staff and material resources;
Democratic Republic of Congo
- From:Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
2017;7(4):275-279
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To improve knowledge and practice of health staff as well as the availability of material resources for diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis in two endemic provinces of DRC (Kinshasa and Bas-Congo).Methods:Structured interviews were performed using questionnaires with staff from 35 healthcare facilities in 9 health zones (HZ) of Kinshasa and 2 HZ in Bas-Congo.Results:Schistosomiasis was reported to be present in all the included HZ.Health staff knew the most important symptoms of schistosomiasis,but advanced symptoms were more accurately reported in Bas-Congo.Knowledge of symptoms related to schistosomiasis such as anemia (P =0.0115) and pollakiuria (P =0.0260) was statistically different in both two provinces.Kato-Katz technique and urine filtration were unavailable in both provinces.Parasitological diagnosis was mostly performed using the direct smear method.PZQ was available in 70％ of the health facilities,all situated in Bas-Congo.Diagnosis and treatment mostly relied on symptoms and cost more in urban area than in rural.Conclusions:Though knowledge on schistosomiasis among health staff appears sufficient,substantial efforts still must be made to improve the availability of diagnostic tools and treatment in the health facilities in DRC.
