Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour for Schistosomiasis-Related Signs and Symptoms in the Ga South District

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is an infection caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. Schistosomiasis ranks second among neglected tropical diseases globally and is mostly endemic in areas with inadequate sanitation and poor water supply. Dams, ponds, lakes, streams, drains and irrigation canals, marshes and swamps serve as habitats for the intermediate snail hosts and also sources of the infection. The World Health Organization has adopted preventive chemotherapy as a strategy to combat schistosomiasis by periodically administrating the drug, praziquantel. Objective: The study aimed to assess the healthcare-seeking behaviour of inhabitants of Ga South Municipal District on schistosomiasis-related signs and symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional study involving the use of a questionnaire was conducted to assess the healthcare-seeking behaviour of inhabitants of Galilea and Mahem communities on schistosomiasis-related signs and symptoms within the Ga South District, which is in close proximity to the lake. A simple random sampling technique was employed in selecting the house numbers to ascertain the households for data collection. Computer-generated random numbers were used to randomly select the households, which subsequently led to the identification and selection of household heads for the study. A total of 242 household heads were interviewed in the two communities within the district. The data collected for the study were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The awareness of schistosomiasis in the two communities stood at 92.6%. Over a third (77.7%) of the respondents indicated that infected persons within the family would visit the hospital or clinic for treatment of schistosomiasis. Majority of the respondents chose the hospital as their source of seeking healthcare due to the perceived quality of healthcare received in treating the infection (efficacy). Chi-square analysis conducted between the socio- demographic factors of the respondents and their healthcare-seeking behaviour showed that only area of residence was significantly associated (p=0.007) with the healthcare-seeking behaviour of the respondents. Conclusion: The awareness of schistosomiasis in the Galilea and Mahem communities was very high due to the educational programmes and research activities conducted regularly in both communities. Most respondents sought care at the hospital or clinic, though some indicated self-medication as their second line of seeking healthcare, and this can be reduced by educating the people on the consequences of engaging heavily in self-medication.