Schistosomiasis in young girls : Implications for the HIV epidemic and the feasibility of mass treatment and education.A pilot study in rural Tanzania with special attention to unsafe waterbody contact.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Infection with Schistosoma haematobium causes gynae¬cological lesions which may facilitate HIV-transmission. Therefore, it is important to assess risk of infection in areas where schistosomal infection is endemic. A pilot study was conducted in a rural dist¬rict in Tanzania to investigate young girls waterbody contact, possible protective factors and access routes to education and mass treatment. A standardised questionnaire was used to interview girls between the age of 5 and 20 years. Our study showed that one third of the girls were at risk of acquiring new schistosomal infection and that younger girls were at greater risk than the older. Furthermore, know¬ledge of the parasite was associated with less risky water contact and most of the girls acquired this knowledge through primary school education. To reach out to non-enrolled girls (16 %) in more rural areas we explored other potential routes. We suggest that treatment and education about S. haematobium should be implemented in the hospitals mobile clinic health programmes. Further research should be performed to assess the effect of treatment on the prevalence of genital lesions and the incidence of HIV in young girls.