AUTHOR=Mazigo Humphrey D. , Samson Anna , Lambert Valencia J. , Kosia Agnes L. , Ngoma Deogratias D. , Murphy Rachel , Kabole Fatma M. , Matungwa Dunstan J. 

TITLE=Healthcare Workers’ Low Knowledge of Female Genital Schistosomiasis and Proposed Interventions to Prevent, Control, and Manage the Disease in Zanzibar

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 67 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604767

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604767

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objectives
To explore healthcare workers’ knowledge of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), proposed awareness-raising interventions, and healthcare facility case management capacity strengthening

Methods
We conducted four cross-sectional focus group discussions and 16 key informant interviews with purposively selected healthcare workers in Zanzibar. Discussions and interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software.

Results
Most participants had little or no knowledge of FGS and lacked skills for managing it. They confused FGS with urogenital schistosomiasis and thought it was sexually transmitted. A few participants knew about FGS and associated with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, and infertility. To prevent and control FGS, participants proposed interventions targeting communities (including community-based health education) and the healthcare system (including training healthcare workers on FGS).

Conclusion
Healthcare workers lacked knowledge of and skills for managing FGS. Besides, healthcare facilities had no diagnostic capacity to manage FGS. Along with on-going interventions to break S. haematobium transmission and eventually eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis in Zanzibar, we recommend training healthcare workers on FGS and equip healthcare facilities with medical equipment and supplies for managing FGS.