Local names for schistosomiasis.

Background
In Uganda, the national prevalence of schistosomiasis is 36.1% among the two-to-four-year age group. Knowledge about schistosomiasis and socio-cultural factors have been reported to influence adult participation in mass drug administrations of praziquantel, the standard medication used to treat the disease. In advance and support of the (pilot) introduction of the recently developed paediatric praziquantel formulation (arpraziquantel), we conducted research on parent and other community members’ knowledge about paediatric schistosomiasis, their information sources, and potential perceived barriers that influence knowledge and access to information on schistosomiasis.
Methods
This cross-sectional qualitative study consisted of 65 in-depth interviews and ten focus group discussions with parents/guardians of preschool-aged children (PSAC), Village Health Teams (VHTs), health professionals, community leading persons and district officials, in addition to direct observations. We collected data concurrently in Hoima District at Lake Albert and Bugiri at Lake Victoria, Uganda, in 2022. The analysis followed both an inductive and a deductive thematic approach.
Results
Despite high parental awareness of the disease and knowledge of signs and symptoms, we identified less familiarity with its transmission and prevention. With limited communication channels, VHTs emerged as the primary information sources but reflected varied local understandings of schistosomiasis. Parents expressed a desire to be informed about the new paediatric treatment through VHTs, health professionals, and community leaders, and partly through the radio. Other mentioned socio-cultural and structural barriers to information flow included language barriers, illiteracy, high population movement, fears, and resentment from restrictive government fishing laws.
Conclusions
Carefully designed information campaigns tailored to local circumstances and health literacy needs should be carried out by trained VHTs and preferably supported by health professionals and the local leadership structure. These components are essential to inform parents/guardians of PSAC, enabling them to make well-informed decisions for their children’s health.

背景
在乌干达，2至4岁年龄组人群的血吸虫病（schistosomiasis）全国流行率为36.1%。已有研究表明，对血吸虫病的认知以及社会文化因素，会影响成年人参与吡喹酮（praziquantel）的大规模药物给药治疗——该药物是治疗血吸虫病的标准用药。为支持新型儿童剂型吡喹酮（arpraziquantel）的（试点）引入工作，我们开展了相关研究，旨在了解家长及其他社区成员对儿童血吸虫病的认知情况、信息来源，以及影响其血吸虫病相关知识获取与信息接触的潜在感知障碍。

方法
本项横断面定性研究共纳入65例深入访谈与10组焦点小组讨论，访谈对象涵盖学龄前儿童（preschool-aged children，PSAC）的家长/监护人、乡村卫生团队（Village Health Teams，VHTs）成员、医疗专业人员、社区负责人以及区级官员，同时辅以直接观察法。2022年，我们同时在乌干达阿尔伯特湖沿岸的霍伊马区与维多利亚湖沿岸的布吉里区开展数据采集工作。数据分析同时采用归纳式与演绎式主题分析方法。

结果
尽管家长对该疾病的知晓度较高，且掌握其体征与症状，但对其传播途径与预防措施的熟悉度仍较低。由于信息传播渠道有限，乡村卫生团队（VHTs）成为主要的信息来源，但他们对血吸虫病的本地认知存在差异。家长们表示，希望通过乡村卫生团队、医疗专业人员与社区领袖了解新型儿科治疗方案，部分家长也希望通过广播获取相关信息。此外，信息传播还面临其他社会文化与结构性障碍：语言壁垒、文盲问题、人口流动性高、民众的恐惧情绪，以及政府限制性渔业法规引发的不满情绪。

结论
应由经过培训的乡村卫生团队开展针对本地实际情况与健康素养需求的精准信息宣传活动，并优先获得医疗专业人员与地方领导机构的支持。此类举措对于向学龄前儿童的家长/监护人传递准确信息至关重要，可帮助他们为子女的健康做出明智决策。