Abstract:
Schistosomiasis is a vector-borne disease expected to become more prevalent, as climate change improves environmental conditions for host snail maturation. Over 25.7 million South Africans are at risk, with approximately 4.5 million infected each year. Infection occurs through skin contact during freshwater-related activities in water bodies contaminated with snail vectors. The study's aim was to assess community's schistosomiasis knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices, as well as views about schistosomiasis-environment interactions, to enhance the development of infection-control programmes. An explanatory sequential mixed-method approach was employed using household questionnaires and in-depth interviews with 342 and 15 participants, respectively. Participants could identify the symptoms, however, knowledge of the cause and transmission was limited; eating too much salt was considered a transmission route, for example. Although the disease was considered serious, participants engaged in risky water practices. A good understanding of schistosomiasis-environmental interactions was revealed; high rainfall was considered to reduce disease infection.
