TY  - BOOK
AU  -  Mwalwisi, Godlove. S
AU  -  Zinga, Maria. Mgella
AU  - Felix Tarimo
TI  -   Health facility factors associated with diagnosis, treatment and prevention of genital schistosomiasis among patients presenting with STI symptoms at Bariadi District, Tanzania
PY  - 2020///
CY  - Mwanza, Tanzania
PB  - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [ CUHAS - Bugando ] , Phone: +255 28 298 3384,         Fax: +255 28 298 3386,       Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz, Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
KW  -  
N2  - Abstract:

Background: Despite causing significant suffering to millions of women and girls, FGS has been overlooked. In many endemic areas, there is inadequate detection, treatment and prevention services for women and girls living in affected areas. The goal of the study is to identify the gaps in health care system that can be filled to improve early diagnosis and management of the population who are at high risk of as well as providing health education on diseases identification, importance of correction diagnosis and treatment as well as prevention.

Method: A total of 1 randomly selected health facilities located in Bariadi District Council Simiyu region. At each facilities, the in-charge clinician, or any other healthcare worker appointed by the in-charge clinician, participated in the questionnaire survey. A quantitative questionnaire installed in epicollectors was used to collect data. Healthcare workers working at various departments were interviewed. The questionnaire collected information related to healthcare workers knowledge about schistosomiasis transmission, prevention, diagnosis and treatment among patients presenting with STIs symptoms.

Results: A total of 64 healthcare workers were recruited into the study whereby 20.31% were facility directors from 13 randomly selected health facilities, majority of the facilities were dispensaries 69.23% with 7.69% clinics, 15.38% health centers and 7.69% hospitals. The majority of the dispensaries 66.67% had no equipment to diagnose schistosomiasis hence clinical diagnosis only whereas the district hospital and the health centers had equipment for schistosomiasis diagnosis (Microscope). All participants (100%) never diagnosed schistosomiasis among patients presenting with STIs symptoms and 60.93% of participants would not consider schistosomiasis in a patient presented with STIs symptoms and would not consider schistosomiasis as one among the differentials in a patient presented with STIs symptoms.

Conclusion: Generally, the capacity of the health facilities included in the current study is inadequate in the areas of diagnosis, treatment and healthcare workers knowledge. The unavailability of praziquantel and laboratory service in many of the health facilities requires an urgent response from the responsible authorities such as the MOHCDGE

ER  -