Table 4.
Association of knowledge of women about schistosomiasis with their age and religion
| Variable | Age (years) | Religion | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 30 n (%) |
≥ 30 n (%) |
OR | 95% CI | Non-apostolic n (%) |
Apostolic n (%) |
OR | 95% CI | |
| Knowledge of bilharzia | ||||||||
| Woman thinks she is currently infected | 61 (31.1) | 61 (30.1) | 1.0 | 0.6–1.5 | 20 (32.3) | 102 (30.3) | 0.9 | 0.5–1.6 |
| What are the signs and symptoms of bilharzia infection?a | ||||||||
| Haematuria | 138 (70.4) | 155 (76.4) | 1.4 | 0.9–2.1 | 45 (72.6) | 248 (73.6) | 1.1 | 0.6–1.9 |
| Weight loss | 46 (23.5) | 52 (25.6) | 1.1 | 0.7–1.8 | 9 (14.5) | 89 (26.4) | 2.1 | 1.0–4.5** |
| Dysuria | 19 (9.7) | 20 (9.9) | 1.0 | 0.5–2.0 | 7 (11.3) | 32 (9.5) | 0.8 | 0.3–2.0 |
| Abdominal pain | 9 (4.6) | 17 (8.4) | 1.9 | 0.8–4.4 | 3 (4.8) | 23 (6.8) | 1.4 | 0.4–5.0 |
| Genital itchiness in women | 2 (1.0) | 6 (3.0) | 2.9 | 0.6–14.7 | 1 (1.6) | 7 (2.1) | 1.3 | 0.2–10.7 |
| I don’t know | 8 (4.1) | 7 (3.5) | 0.8 | 0.3–2.4 | 1 (1.6) | 14 (4.2) | 2.6 | 0.3–20.5 |
| What are the complications of untreated chronic bilharzia infection?a | ||||||||
| Infertility | 72 (36.7) | 98 (48.3) | 1.6 | 1.1–2.4* | 20 (32.3) | 150 (44.5) | 1.7 | 0.9–3.0 |
| Mental disturbance | 21 (10.7) | 33 (16.3) | 1.6 | 0.9–2.9 | 10 (16.1) | 44 (13.1) | 0.8 | 0.4–1.6 |
| Death | 14 (7.1) | 17 (8.4) | 1.2 | 0.6–2.5 | 9 (14.5) | 22 (6.5) | 0.4 | 0.2–0.9* |
| I don’t know | 8 (4.1) | 8 (3.9) | 1.0 | 0.4–2.6 | 5 (8.1) | 11 (3.3) | 0.4 | 0.1–1.1 |
| What are the prevention and control methods of bilharzia?a | ||||||||
| Taking anti-schistosomal medicines | 55 (28.1) | 48 (23.7) | 0.8 | 0.5–1.2 | 13 (21.0) | 90 (26.7) | 1.4 | 0.7–2.7 |
| Avoiding use of unprotected water bodies | 86 (43.9) | 91 (44.8) | 1.0 | 0.7–1.5 | 35 (56.5) | 142 (42.1) | 0.6 | 0.3–1.0* |
| Health education | 19 (9.7) | 17 (8.4) | 0.8 | 0.4–1.7 | 4 (6.5) | 32 (9.5) | 1.5 | 0.5–4.5 |
| Provision of WASH facilities | 29 (14.8) | 33 (16.3) | 1.1 | 0.7–1.9 | 11 (18.0) | 51 (15.1) | 0.8 | 0.4–1.7 |
| Risky perceptionsa | ||||||||
| School-aged children most likely infected | 149 (76.0) | 158 (77.8) | 1.1 | 0.7–1.8 | 45 (72.6) | 262 (77.7) | 1.3 | 0.7–2.4 |
| Children aged ≤ 5 years most likely infected | 102 (52.0) | 97 (47.8) | 0.8 | 0.6–1.2 | 35 (56.5) | 164 (48.7) | 0.7 | 0.4–1.3 |
| Adult women most likely infected | 33 (16.8) | 46 (22.7) | 1.4 | 0.9–2.4 | 10 (16.1) | 69 (20.5) | 1.3 | 0.6–2.8 |
| Adult men most likely infected | 20 (10.2) | 34 (16.8) | 1.8 | 1.0–3.2** | 5 (8.1) | 49 (14.5) | 1.9 | 0.7–5.1 |
| Practicesa | ||||||||
| Use unsafe water for domestic purposesb | 29 (13.7) | 30 (14.0) | 1.0 | 0.6–1.8 | 8 (12.7) | 51 (14.1) | 1.1 | 0.5–2.5 |
| Use unsafe water for laundryb | 179 (84.4) | 174 (81.3) | 1.2 | 0.8–2.1 | 52 (82.5) | 301 (82.9) | 1.0 | 0.5–2.0 |
| Bath in unsafe waterb | 84 (39.6) | 85 (39.7) | 1.0 | 0.7–1.5 | 35 (55.6) | 134 (36.9) | 2.1 | 1.2–3.7* |
| Allow PSAC to play in unsafe water while they are bathing | 118 (55.7) | 127 (59.4) | 0.9 | 0.6–1.3 | 38 (60.3) | 207 (57.0) | 1.1 | 0.7–2.0 |
| Bath PSAC using boiled water | 198 (93.4) | 198 (92.5) | 0.9 | 0.4–1.8 | 58 (92.1) | 338 (93.1) | 1.2 | 0.4–3.2 |
| Allow PSAC to help water the garden | 56 (26.4) | 68 (31.8) | 1.3 | 0.9–2.0 | 24 (38.1) | 100 (27.6) | 0.6 | 0.4–1.1 |
| Have a toilet at home | 170 (80.2) | 173 (80.8) | 1.0 | 0.6–1.7 | 57 (90.5) | 286 (78.8) | 0.4 | 0.2–0.9* |
| Use of a toilet for excreta disposal | 180 (84.9) | 182 (85.1) | 1.0 | 0.6–1.7 | 60 (95.2) | 302 (83.2) | 0.2 | 0.1–0.8* |
| Discussion of bilharzia at home | 176 (89.8) | 198 (97.5) | 4.5 | 1.7–12.2* | 58 (93.6) | 316 (93.8) | 1.0 | 0.3–3.1 |
aMultiple responses were considered
bThose who rely solely on unsafe water for the indicated water contact activities
* Significant association (P < 0.05); ** Borderline significance (P = 0.05)
Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; PSAC, preschool-aged children; WASH, water, sanitation and hygiene