Health Education Model Led by Community Health Volunteers.

Pemba Ministry of Health Zanzibar978 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this intervention study is to investigate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of students on schistosomiasis in Pemba Island. It aims to test the effectiveness of establishing a widely applicable Community Health Volunteers model in the Zanzibar region and explore the feasibility of promoting this model in other areas of Africa. This study also aims to provide valuable insights and references for global schistosomiasis prevention and control efforts.

The main questions it aims to answer are: Conducting a survey to understand the current knowledge levels, attitudes, and relevant health behaviors of Pemba Island students towards schistosomiasis. Performing qualitative research to analyze the factors influencing students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to schistosomiasis, as well as observing the facilitators and barriers to conducting health education among student groups, in order to provide a scientific basis for targeted intervention measures. Testing the effectiveness of establishing a widely applicable community health volunteer model in the Zanzibar region and exploring the feasibility of promoting this model in other regions of Africa, thereby providing insights and references for global schistosomiasis prevention and control efforts. Participants will select fourth and fifth grade students from two schools located in high-risk schistosomiasis prevalence areas on Pemba Island, with Kilindi Primary School as the intervention group and Shumba Viamboni or Chambani primary school as the control group from Feb 2024 to Feb 2025. Apart from the KAP survey, urine samples will be collected from students three times at least and the prevalence confirmed to compare the effectiveness of the two groups.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

978

Conditions

Schistosomiasis Health Education

Interventions

health educationBEHAVIORAL

In the intervention group, we provide schistosomiasis health education to students once a month through community health volunteers for a duration of six months. After that, the community health volunteers no longer visit the school for health education until the completion of a one-year follow-up period.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 7 YearsMax age: 15 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals whose grades fall within the scope of the survey Students who have not received health education intervention on schistosomiasis conducted by community health volunteers Students or parents who agree to sign informed consent and participate in the study Students residing in schistosomiasis-endemic areas Exclusion Criteria: * Students whose grades are not within the scope of the survey Students who have already received health education intervention on schistosomiasis Students or parents who refuse to sign informed consent or participate in the study Students who have been diagnosed with other serious illnesses.

Locations (1)

Neglected tropical diseases in Pemba

Pemba, CharkChark, Tanzania

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Infection Rate

For biological sample collection, students provided first-morning urine samples (30-50 mL) in sterile, pre-labeled wide-mouth containers under teacher supervision to ensure protocol adherence. Certified laboratory technicians performed standardized filtration and microscopic analysis to detect S. haematobium eggs. All egg counts were initially recorded manually, then entered into a Microsoft Excel database using dual-entry verification to maintain data integrity. Infection intensity classified by WHO criteria (light: 1-49 eggs/10ml urine; heavy: ≥ 50 eggs/10ml urine)

Time frame: before the intervention, six months after the intervention, and at the end of the one-year observation period

Change in Knowledge Scores

Measurement Tool: "Schistosomiasis Knowledge Questionnaire" Description: This questionnaire assesses the knowledge level of students regarding schistosomiasis. Scale Title: Schistosomiasis Knowledge Questionnaire Range: Minimum value: 0, Maximum value: 10 Interpretation: Higher scores indicate a better understanding of schistosomiasis

Time frame: before the intervention, six months after the intervention, and at the end of the one-year observation period

Attitudes Changes

Measurement Tool: "Schistosomiasis Attitudes Questionnaire" Description: This questionnaire assesses the attitudes level of students regarding schistosomiasis. Scale Title: Schistosomiasis Attitudes Questionnaire Range: Minimum value: 11, Maximum value: 55 Interpretation: Higher scores indicate more positive attitudes related to schistosomiasis

Time frame: before the intervention, six months after the intervention, and at the end of the one-year observation period

Behaviors Changes

Measurement Tool: "Schistosomiasis Behaviors Questionnaire" Description: This questionnaire assesses the behaviors level of students regarding schistosomiasis. Scale Title: Schistosomiasis Behaviors Questionnaire Range: Minimum value:10 , Maximum value:30 Interpretation: Higher scores indicate more positive behaviors related to schistosomiasis

Time frame: before the intervention, six months after the intervention, and at the end of the one-year observation period

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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